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memshare | the landlord
To find Rangief and the others - a small clutch of the survivors of the massacre of Halia - living on the streets of Grand Trad had shaken you down to your bones, and you'd promised your former servant, your dear, dear people, your friends, that you would find them all places to live. You find Lord Hydran, who owns several houses in the capitol, and you ask him if he'd consider allowing the people of Halia to live there for a short time, until at least they can get back on their feet. You don't care that you have to beg for it. You will. You'll do anything to save them - your pride as a noble doesn't matter.
Hydran sneers at the idea. "Am I supposed to consider this charity? What compensation do I receive in return?"
You stare at him like he's grown a second head. It's probably not very polite. Hydran continues.
"Odd, that you would petition on their half to begin with; it's not as though they are still your responsibility. Besides, is poverty not an individual's onus to bear?"
Okay, forget staring. You get angry, immediately - righteously angry, furiously so, though you keep it under a pot lid. "They were attacked, and forced to flee their homes. You would still hold them responsible for their lack of means?"
"So fate was cruel to them, and they could not rise above it. Should they not hold themselves to higher standards? I'm afraid I'm under no obligation here. Besides... what of your own circumstances? With your parents and land gone, you have little else to anchor you. Consider restoring the glory of your house before you worry about the rabble. "
Your hands slowly curl into fists by your sides. The way Hydran says rabble makes you seethe but - you have to be smarter than that. You are smarter than that. You take a deep breath. Count to three in your head, and turn your expression onto Hydran.
"I was right about one thing. I ought not to have asked you for help."
Will immediately looks to you, concerned, but you shake your head. No. You won't abandon your people - men like this have to be handled differently. And you turn on your heel with the polite fury of a noble, scathing in your apology for wasting his time, though you pause, back to him. "... Before I go. You should know those refugees are my people. And no matter your stance on it, I will do everything in my power to save them."
Hydran clicks his tongue behind you. "My good lad. I'm sure I must come across rather harshly, but it's not as though I have no sympathy for you. Abandoned by your parents, shunned by your relations, you were left to the harsh truths of the royal capital too young. It's a pity."
You almost say something back - but you don't get the chance to. Will cuts in, immediate, with a sharp, "You should choose your words more carefully." almost like a threat to the lord, and some part of you sings with it, but you - you won't lose your temper, and you won't let him, either. You give him a grateful look, and start to head off so he scurries behind.
As you leave, Will's furious, calling Lord Hydran names you've never heard him say before. It'd be touching, but you're focused, now. Not just out of love for your people, but out of spite, too. You, only son of Halia, will find a solution.
And you are very, very good at finding solutions.
--
It takes you some time. The gathering of connections. A trip back to Halia in all of its rubble and despair, a bolstering conversation with Will. The careful movement of chess pieces. When you collect your inheritance, held by an old friend of your fathers, you decide to purchase land with it from a lord in desperate need of coin - one purchased to sell by Lord Hydran.
As expected, Hydran's tune changes completely when your broker presents him with cash. Everything goes exactly to plan.
0:12 to 6:23
"A nobleman is a shield in his people's hands. Durable enough to protect them, but light enough to carry. Else, what value does he have?"
Hydran's true colors show near immediately - but you're too smart to be fooled. Hope is only one step behind a clear conscience, after all. You tear his stupid contract to shreds, and his stupid plans, too. You humiliate him, catch him in a trap he can't escape from. He asks if you're threatening him, but the thing is, you don't need to threaten him. You know you've won.
You can feel Will beaming at you from beside you, bolstering and familiar. You hold out your hand to Hydran, and you smile. A mongoose bringing down a snake.
"Now then. Shall we put ink to parchment?"
--
Hydran sneers at the idea. "Am I supposed to consider this charity? What compensation do I receive in return?"
You stare at him like he's grown a second head. It's probably not very polite. Hydran continues.
"Odd, that you would petition on their half to begin with; it's not as though they are still your responsibility. Besides, is poverty not an individual's onus to bear?"
Okay, forget staring. You get angry, immediately - righteously angry, furiously so, though you keep it under a pot lid. "They were attacked, and forced to flee their homes. You would still hold them responsible for their lack of means?"
"So fate was cruel to them, and they could not rise above it. Should they not hold themselves to higher standards? I'm afraid I'm under no obligation here. Besides... what of your own circumstances? With your parents and land gone, you have little else to anchor you. Consider restoring the glory of your house before you worry about the rabble. "
Your hands slowly curl into fists by your sides. The way Hydran says rabble makes you seethe but - you have to be smarter than that. You are smarter than that. You take a deep breath. Count to three in your head, and turn your expression onto Hydran.
"I was right about one thing. I ought not to have asked you for help."
Will immediately looks to you, concerned, but you shake your head. No. You won't abandon your people - men like this have to be handled differently. And you turn on your heel with the polite fury of a noble, scathing in your apology for wasting his time, though you pause, back to him. "... Before I go. You should know those refugees are my people. And no matter your stance on it, I will do everything in my power to save them."
Hydran clicks his tongue behind you. "My good lad. I'm sure I must come across rather harshly, but it's not as though I have no sympathy for you. Abandoned by your parents, shunned by your relations, you were left to the harsh truths of the royal capital too young. It's a pity."
You almost say something back - but you don't get the chance to. Will cuts in, immediate, with a sharp, "You should choose your words more carefully." almost like a threat to the lord, and some part of you sings with it, but you - you won't lose your temper, and you won't let him, either. You give him a grateful look, and start to head off so he scurries behind.
As you leave, Will's furious, calling Lord Hydran names you've never heard him say before. It'd be touching, but you're focused, now. Not just out of love for your people, but out of spite, too. You, only son of Halia, will find a solution.
And you are very, very good at finding solutions.
--
It takes you some time. The gathering of connections. A trip back to Halia in all of its rubble and despair, a bolstering conversation with Will. The careful movement of chess pieces. When you collect your inheritance, held by an old friend of your fathers, you decide to purchase land with it from a lord in desperate need of coin - one purchased to sell by Lord Hydran.
As expected, Hydran's tune changes completely when your broker presents him with cash. Everything goes exactly to plan.
0:12 to 6:23
"A nobleman is a shield in his people's hands. Durable enough to protect them, but light enough to carry. Else, what value does he have?"
Hydran's true colors show near immediately - but you're too smart to be fooled. Hope is only one step behind a clear conscience, after all. You tear his stupid contract to shreds, and his stupid plans, too. You humiliate him, catch him in a trap he can't escape from. He asks if you're threatening him, but the thing is, you don't need to threaten him. You know you've won.
You can feel Will beaming at you from beside you, bolstering and familiar. You hold out your hand to Hydran, and you smile. A mongoose bringing down a snake.
"Now then. Shall we put ink to parchment?"
--