The wallpaper's color was fading. It was a small detail that wouldn't be noticed without closer inspection, but Artemis had keen eyes for details. And though it was one small thing, it was a big thing when added to the whole picture. That picture being the grim setting of the children's bedroom. Faded wallpaper in a room with rows and rows of bed, all similar to one another save for the few personal items and trunks. All of which had not been provided by the orphanage itself, but last years Chrismas donation.
The setting was miserable, in one word, with only a few splashes of vibrant colors giving it any semblance of life. She would be sure to be having a chat with management. There was nothing she could do about it now, but there would be later. Artemis would see to that. The plant magi always did once she made up her mind and nothing would change it.
"Maia," Artemis called her assistant absentmindedly, unaware the young woman was standing beside her the entire time as she looked over the room.
"Please note down a reminder for February to plan a few interior changes to the children's rooms."
"Yes, Ms. Saki," Maia answered in her typical calming tone as she scheduled the plan months ahead on her tablet.
"You have an hour until the children are out of classes, 30 minutes until volunteers start showing up, 35 minutes until the reporters show, and all of the packages has just arrived.."
Slowly, Artemis backed away from the wall and folded her arms over her chest.
"Thank you, Maia. Can you go and make sure everything is accounted for?" Looking over her shoulder, she offered something of a soft smile. It was a small but genuine expression. Artemis was usually far too reserved at times, often putting on a mask in public, but none of that was needed in the company of the few she was close with. And considering all that she trusted Maia with, they were close when it came to business and a friendship.
"Of course," she answered with a little more cheer this time. Artemis could only chalk it up to her being happy to get away from staring at wallpaper for the next half an hour.
Given a moment of silent peace, Artemis used the opportunity to fully inspect the room. Her heels clicked against the hardwood floor as she walked around, looking over coarse blankets to ragged toys and scratched windows. Some of it was to be expected, after all, the orphanage had been established for years, long before Artemis was born and before. Though it had gone over many changes, the biggest changes happening in the last nine years. Transforming from an all-boys home to a co-ed home and the massive adjustment of staff after the director himself stepped downed to retire due to their methods of child "discipline" being exposed. Had he not been from a noble family, it wouldn't have been so fastly removed from the public eye and swept under the rug.
All high-class individuals were aware ... and of course, the victims of the abuse themselves. That incident had marked Artemis's deeper involvement in the orphanages, starting charities every year for at least one holiday. Gaining donations wasn't hard, all she had to do was slap her name up there and suddenly everyone noble wanted a piece of the pie, to show how good they were of people. How involved and concerned they truly were of their community -- of the children! They wanted publicity and a good image and they got it by giving away a couple of thousands. Sometimes that outside of their species would even pitch in.
Money wasn't a problem, gaining volunteers who genuinely helped was. Only a third of those donators ever showed up and only half of them did work instead of showing off for the cameras. The hardest workers were the random low to middle-class volunteers. It was almost embarrassing to be high class when comparing the two.
This day would be no different, she was sure of that.
Artemis plopped down onto a bed, it was surprisingly softer than it looked, but she was already taking mental notes to replace the mattresses as well. Her mission next year was to redo all the bedrooms. With as much effort she was putting into orphanages private and public, there would have to be some positive influence and genuine joy in these children's lives even if a little. They weren't her children, but she still cared. Someone had to since not many in their community did.
Ding! The sudden noise from her phone pulled her out of her mind and back into reality. Only ten minutes until the volunteers arrived. Good. She was ready to work those pretty little high noble hands down to the bone. Tormenting them with real work was half the fun.
Artemis gave the reporters ten minutes exactly. Nothing more and nothing less. She had only done the first interview to spread the news and raise awareness. And she had done this one to encourage others with a little subtle shaming to the higher folks who hadn't pitched in a single dime. But she had promised the day to work and she fully intended to do that, having ended her interview politely.
Directing the volunteers to begin opening boxes and assigning them to teams and tasks was the easy part, watching the children file out from their classrooms with sparkling eyes full of excitement was the fun part. Being pulled every which way by them was not so fun, but she was a mother of two and a businesswoman. It was nothing she couldn't handle. She piqued during challenges and this time was no different. Detaching their little limbs from her body had proved to be harder than she had expected, however.
Just as she showed a little group of three to help put away the new storybooks, a new and familiar face appeared.
"Please, Levi, we've known each other long enough for you to call me Artemis." And long enough where she didn't need to feign a smile for the young man.
"It's disappointing that your father couldn't join us, however, I understand he has a whole sector to run. But we're just as lucky, if not more, to have you here."
"There's a lot to be done. We're decorating every inch of the building that we can, most of it has been prepared and needs setting up. Unfortunately, the rain is keeping us from decorating the outside today. The foyer is almost done, but the classrooms, cafeteria, and bedrooms all need help. If you're not fond of that, you can help the kids' supervision and education. They'll be doing arts and crafts, and we're hoping some would volunteer to do some story reading or safe spell teaching... Some of them are of age but don't have a medium. So, little charms and things of the like might help." She paused, looking around the room and calculations.
"We're encouraging some to perform in a Magi Moore talent show next month, boost their confidence." And chances of being adopted. That was an unspoken and obvious fact.
