From: broideress	Date: 09/24/2007 16:00:25

*is striding through her offices, talking rapidly on the phone and pointing out various things in the mock-up of the latest magazine cover*

*shuts off her phone as she reaches the door* Hello, Erendis, yes?

	From: starbrow	Date: 09/24/2007 16:08:33

*is standing calmly in the foyer with handbag and gloves in one hand* *admires? scrutinizes the pictures on the walls*

Ms. Þerindë? I've caught you at a busy moment, I can see.

	From: broideress	Date: 09/24/2007 16:50:04

Oh, Míriel, please.

*shakes her head* Not to worry, it's never not a busy moment so now is as good a time as any. How may I help you? Do come through.

*pauses on the way to her reception room to arrange for tea to be brought in*

	From: starbrow	Date: 09/24/2007 17:10:01

Míriel, of course. *doing her best to follow your less-formal lead* *takes a great security in formalities*

*sees the tea service* *thinks that's most handsome of you* A professional call, perhaps? *has no desire to bring up personal matters in front of your staff* *waits until they're seated*

I'd read in the papers of the position your husband has put you is now in. I wished to call personally to offer my sincere sympathies.

	From: broideress	Date: 09/24/2007 17:31:35

*pours the tea as she digests your words* Well, Finwë has been a cause of much sympathy for many, many years. I daresay he will muddle through this latest disaster though Eru knows how.

*sighs*

Sugar? Milk?

	From: starbrow	Date: 09/24/2007 17:40:11

Sugar? Milk?

*mildly* Black, thank you. *takes the cup and sets a napkin across her knee* *crosses her legs at the ankles*

this latest disaster

*is stymied, imagining this must mean you've... been in this position before?* *...* *has a hard time concealing her surprise* You mean to say you're quite on your own?

	From: broideress	Date: 09/24/2007 17:45:48

*nods and passes your cup to you* *takes her own tea black as well*

*tilts her head to the side* Quite on my own? Well, I think it is preferable to the alternative. If I became too entangled with my family's affairs again, I daresay I should find myself outlawed or exiled or, even worse, imprisoned alongside poor Finwë. In any case, I have always done rather better on my own and, I think, in the long run, I can serve my family better -- from a distance.

	From: starbrow	Date: 09/24/2007 17:54:29

*sips, trying to place the blend*

preferable to the alternative

Oh. Oh I must say I agree. *finds herself pleasantly relieved by this response* Women must look out for themselves all too often in these scenarios and it is a great upset to me that men do not see it. *gives a sigh through pursed lips*

*frowns at the predicament you've raised* Forgive my intrusion... is it true he's staked himself in the place of the true culprits at large? It's more foolish than I took him for.

	From: broideress	Date: 09/24/2007 18:08:37

You are right. Men do not see it and Finwë is even less self-aware than most of his breed. *shakes her head with the sort of unmistakeable affection that she'll deny until her last breath*

..is it true he's staked himself in the place of the true culprits at large?

*sighs wearily* It is true. The culprits are our grandchildren and Finwë has always put their wellbeing and that of their father above everyone else, even himself. It is selfless but Eru, it is unfuriating.

	From: starbrow	Date: 09/24/2007 18:18:31

unmistakeable affection

put their wellbeing and that of their father above everyone else

*is beginning to find this whole conversation more confusing than she expected*

*decides you must be confused as well and takes the opportunity to offer a voice of reason moral support*

Yet you have a remarkable business behind you. I've often considered how many women in this city take on similar responsibilities and in these times it can't be easy.

	From: broideress	Date: 09/26/2007 14:53:14

*smiles faintly* No, that is true. It's not easy although Elwë has been nothing but supportive towards me and -- *continues, not vainly* -- it helps that my name and reputations are such that many opportunites are available to me that might not be so for other lesser women.

	From: starbrow	Date: 09/26/2007 15:03:43

many opportunities are available to me

*diplomatically, with only a little jealousy careful attention* Thingol's support is not easily earned, I'm sure. You've made remarkable strides.

*sets her cup and saucer down* Have you given any consideration to networking? I've been thinking a great deal on it, of late.

	From: broideress	Date: 09/26/2007 16:15:03

Thingol's support, though it galls me very slightly to say it, was earned by virtue of the fact that he is good friends with my jailbird of a husband. *shakes her head* Eru, the logic of men is strange, is it not?

Now, will you have a scone? *pushes the plate towards you*

Have you given any consideration to networking?

*pauses as she considers this* In truth, no, I have not but now that you mention it -- what have you thought?

	From: starbrow	Date: 09/26/2007 17:41:44

the logic of men is strange

*finds these puzzles in your personality ever more curious* More often than not, yes. ;)

what have you thought?

*carefully breaks a scone in half* On forming a professional network, for female entrepreneurs here. I enjoy the thought of women supporting each other in what is often a challenging climate.

	From: broideress	Date: 09/26/2007 18:08:57

*pours herself some more tea*

That is a very interesting proposition. It seems right that established businesswomen, such as ourselves, should provide some sort of support to the less experienced amongst us.

	From: starbrow	Date: 09/26/2007 18:15:27

*calm smile* Indeed. Forming a community is very valuable. I'm quite willing to offer the Star to host events, perhaps a regular social hour, invited speakers?