A referral · asked first

A contractor asks. We ask you first.

Wendell Ashby needs a finish carpenter for the Net Loft. Delphine Arceneaux reads Harbor Trades, finds two people who fit, and asks each of them privately. Wendell is introduced only to the ones who say yes, and never learns who else was asked. Play both sides.

1The ask

Wendell writes to the desk

To desk@seenwork.example26 September

A finish carpenter for the Net Loft

Wendell AshbySigned in with OAuthashby-and-daughter.example

The trade: Finish carpentry
Where: The Net Loft, Cannery Wharf
When: Two weeks from 12 October 2026
The work: Scribing new trim to old walls, and rebuilding a stair rail.
Pay: By the day, agreed between them, paid by Ashby and Daughter directly.
Fee to us: None. Not for asking, not for an introduction, not for hiring.

This arrives as ordinary email. Kindling v0.1 has no message type for an ask, so it is not a Kindling message until Delphine writes to a member through the Pool.

Ask for a referral yourself

2The curator reads the Pool

Delphine asks the file “Who does finish carpentry?”

Two people come up, in the order they said yes. Each carries a vouch from someone who saw the work. Wendell never sees this list.

Marcus HaleVouched for by the curator

Finish carpenter and furniture maker. Trim, built-ins, stair rails, and scribing new wood to old walls. Two-week jobs suit me best.

Seen by Sam Adebayo

Worked beside him on the Pilot House refit, spring 2026. Scribed the new wainscot to walls that have not been square in a hundred years.

Pilot House refit · spring 2026

Vouched by Rigo Paz, curator, on 6 MaySigned in with OAuth

Counts in Harbor Trades only. Not on Marcus’s page, not in any other Pool.

Leo MarchettiVouched for by the curator

Carpenter. Framing, decks, stage risers and finish work. Early starts, clean sites, invoices that add up.

Seen by Wes Adeyemi

Watched him build the new stage riser on the Ferry Room rebuild, winter 2025. Level, quiet, and it still does not squeak.

Ferry Room stage rebuild · winter 2025

Vouched by Rigo Paz, curator, on 17 FebruarySigned in with OAuth

Counts in Harbor Trades only. Not on Leo’s page, not in any other Pool.

3Asked first, one at a time

Marcus and Leo, asked privately

On 28 September 2026 Delphine writes to each of them separately: the job, the pay arrangement, and two buttons. Answer as either one, in any order. Nothing reaches Wendell until someone says yes.

What Marcus seesFrom Delphine

A contractor is asking for a finish carpenter

Marcus, a contractor has asked us for a finish carpenter, and I thought of you first. Wendell Ashby, of Ashby and Daughter, is restoring the Net Loft on Cannery Wharf. He needs two weeks from 12 October: scribing new trim to old walls, and rebuilding a stair rail. Pay is by the day, agreed between the two of you, and his firm pays you directly. Say yes and I will introduce you to him. Say no, thank you, and that is the end of it: he does not know I asked you, and he never will. Delphine

Delphine is waiting for your answer. There is no hurry.

What Wendell can see

Nothing yet. Delphine has asked two people, and Wendell does not know who.

Asked byWendell AshbySigned in with OAuth

Asked firstMarcus HaleVouched for by the curator

Asked byWendell AshbySigned in with OAuth

Asked firstLeo MarchettiVouched for by the curator

Marcus · waiting
Leo · waiting

What Leo seesFrom Delphine

A contractor is asking for a finish carpenter

Leo, a contractor has asked us for a finish carpenter, and I thought of you. Wendell Ashby, of Ashby and Daughter, is restoring the Net Loft on Cannery Wharf. He needs two weeks from 12 October: scribing new trim to old walls, and rebuilding a stair rail. Pay is by the day, agreed between the two of you, and his firm pays you directly. Say yes and I will introduce you to him. Say no, thank you, and that is the end of it: he does not know I asked you, and he never will. Delphine

Delphine is waiting for your answer. There is no hurry.

What Wendell gets

So far, nothing. The introduction goes only to people who said yes: one intro message to Wendell for each of them, and one to each of them, from Delphine, through Harbor Trades, by email §6.1 §6.3.

Who can write first

Checked live with the kit’s canMessage: each member’s own work page (accept_from: verified, no_cold_messages), the Pool’s minimum, and its two block lists §7.2 §7.3.

Wendell writes to MarcusNot yet. No first message until both of you have said you would like to hear from each other. (§7.2 no-cold-messages)

Wendell writes to LeoNot yet. No first message until both of you have said you would like to hear from each other. (§7.2 no-cold-messages)

The referral’s messages, as JSON

Sample files, validated against the schema: Delphine’s ask to Marcus, his yes, the introduction to Wendell, and to Marcus.