[PM][4th/7th/9th] Week --: Wishful Curse

[Nargles]

“Sir, Dominic has brought the carriage around,” a reserved voice called out from behind him. The Patriarch of House Metzer, Theophilus Metzer turned to face his valet. Returning the book that was currently in his hand, he nodded to the servant before making his way towards the front door of his grand estate.

The valet approached once more, a pressed, brown overcoat in his hands. Assisting him, the coat was quickly draped over the slate gray suit he wore underneath. “That’ll be all,” said Theophilus in a stern tone. He stepped outside, his chauffer assisting him into the ornate carriage that would take him to the day’s meeting.

As they departed, he appeared to be lost in thought, right hand resting on his groomed, graying beard. While news had it that Seireitei was in turmoil, as per usual, the world of nobility had been relatively quiet, something that was rather off putting to Theophilus. After all, when you dealt with the darker side of politics, stability was terribly bad for business.

Though Yin Feng was well known to those in the Gotei, to nobles Jianyu Fu was a name that commanded more weight. They dabbled in the same trades, making them business partners at times and rivals at others. The Metzer Patriarch hoped that it would be the former this time.

“We’ll be arriving in a few minutes sir,” announced the chauffeur.

He raised the blinds on his carriage, as the estate of Jianyu Fu came into view. The meeting would take place in the carriage, as staying in one place when discussing matters like this carried risks. As the carriage came to a halt in front of his guest, the chauffer opened the side door. Extending his hand forward, Theophilus greeted his would be compatriot.

“What was it again? In the Game of Houses, never let them see what you aim for until you take it?”

[318]

 

[Shadowwind]

“Obfuscation is how the master’s play it, or so I’m told,” the Fu house head said with a bow.

When he rose, Jianyu accepted the Metzerhelp into the carriage.Jianyu looked just a little too disinterested in why this meeting had been scheduled. If anything his reaching the Central Fourty-Six as well as his brother’s rise to captaincy in the past few months had catapulted the small southern lords from rumor mongers to something to be respected.

Where his siblings mastered secrets and misdirection, the eldest sibling had never found a need for that. His direct speech could disarm just as well as a lie. Many expected him to be a master of subtlety and Jianyu’s bluntness often lead to suspicions about whether his announced intentions were his true ones.

“Your message for meeting me came as a surprise Lord Metzer,” the Fu patriarch said smirking. “However it was a pleasant one, House Fu isn’t used to being noticed by other families outside the contacts my brother makes. To what do I owe this honor?”

[176]

 

[Nargles]

“What else than business Lord Fu,” Theophilus replied in a matter-of-fact tone. His voice betrayed little of his true intentions, and his bluntness seemed to hint that he was not in the mood to partake in the empty flattery that preceded most of the dealings of the upper-class.

Even though he had lead House Metzer for centuries, his still retained an almost flawless memory of the houses he had interacted with in the past. For House Fu, their reputation had not escaped his mind. The ability to get the necessary work done was appealing for Theophilus, for age had never afforded him patience.

“With the rise of your brother to Captain, I rather hope that you all have not decided to change your family’s business strategy, I am rather quite fond of it,” said the gray-haired elder, “I’d hate to see such skill go to waste.”

[464]

 

[Shadowwind]

“My brother will continue to offer whatever assistance he is able,” Jianyu said placidly. “I don’t expect Feng to suddenly change what he has been doing for nearly three centuries. If he does, there is still at least one final obligation he has to the family. My daughter will be trained by her uncle to ensure that my sons are not want for the council House Yin can provide. From all accounts it appears as though all three could be drafted as shinigami. Though I do hope for my eldest’s sake that he manages to avoid that. I was gifted enough to not need to split my mind between two duties and instead managed to cultivate a strong base while Feng provided me contacts without fail.”

With a small yawn, the wise-man spoke again, “However from what I understand Metzer was never gifted with the same type of luck we had. Feng speaks of Lucia fondly and yet, I can’t help but wonder if she is the right fit for one such as you.”

[174/350]

 

[Nargles]

“Miss Amaterasu-Frey is no longer under my authority,” replied Theophilus in a dry tone of voice. His words carried an undercurrent of bitterness and disdain. “No, while she does indeed possess a rather curious strength, her attitude upsets me. She’s lacks the viewpoint that your brother possesses.”

The frown on his face continued to grow. If it were not for a ridiculous set of contracts and obligations drawn up the ancestors of Metzer-Frey, he would have eliminated all ties to House Frey. Fortunately, the girl was too oblivious to realize the truth of the situation.

The elder shifted slightly in his seat, “I have seen the rise and fall of many regimes in Soul Society, Lord Fu. It is my personal opinion that we live in a time far too forgiving. Traitors are excused to live freely among us, and the we are losing our grip on both our world and the human world. You must surely be as frustrated as I am at this age of forgiveness.”

 

[Shadowwind]

“Any situation provides tools for those who spend the time to look at them Lord Metzer,” Jianyu said with a small smile.

“It is very easy for people to forgive, yet very difficult for them to forget. Once disrupted, you may call for a do over all you wish. The very memory of the play will linger, and those with the mind can easily exploit that information to their own gain.” The Fu head’s voice sounded almost robotic, as though he were listing off something very obvious.

“Whether in good times or ill, as my brother likes to say, the strong will survive. Forgiveness does nothing but build resentment, something my family can use to fund our businesses. Frustration, I have learned, is a crutch Lord Metzer. Used by those who yearn for change yet lack the resolve to dirty their hands to bring about the resolution they seek. ”

[149/499]

 

[lilmangoseed]

A small knock came at their doorway and interrupted the enigmatic conversation between the two lofty nobles. Upon permission to enter, one of the servants quietly stepped into the room. His white hair was neatly laid back across his scalp and a polished mustache curled over his upper lip. But yet, an uncharacteristic look was in the man's brown eyes, one marked by dilated pupils and wan pallor in his cheeks.

"Excuse me, my lords. But I have an indispensable message to deliver to Lord Metzer."

Despite the fullness of the words he elicited, a subtle quaver rocked in the nuances of his voice. In his left hand, the servant held a white envelope. Yet curiously, his arm tremored as his opposite hand gripped onto his forearm.

He took another step forward and asked, "May I?"

[136]​

 

[Nargles]

Theophilus raised an eye in suspicion. After all, this meeting was only on a need to know basis. He paused for a moment, eyeing the white envelope with a faint curiosity. He turned to face Jianyu once more, “If you would excuse me for a moment.”

Turning back to the servant, he simply gestured for the clearly anxious man to enter fully.

 

[lilmangoseed]

When the man drew closer, he laid the envelope on the tabletop in front of Lord Metzer. At this close distance, the cloth of his left sleeve became more apparently unusual as the black cotton sleeve appeared damp. His opposite hand clamped tightly over it, and the fingers of both arms were uncharacteristically pale. Shakily drawing his arm back after placing the envelope down, the scent of wet iron trailed after the limb's movement.

Beads of sweat rolled down his brow and for a brief moment, he dared to glance to the night window where streaming white light revealed nothing but a blanket of ebon stillness. Clearing his throat, the servant nodded to both Lord Metzer and Lord Fu before turning around and walking back to the door.

[128/264]
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[Nargles]

Theophilus’ eyes remained fixated on the envelope, the health of the servant completely being ignored. The smell of iron was nothing more than an afterthought for him, his full attention drawn towards the envelope.

He reached forward, reaching into his pocket to pull out a decorative knife. He cut along the edge cleanly, pulling out the thin paper tucked inside. Scrawled in elegant script, a message was written in fountain pen. Faintly his right hand began to shake as he read the message.

The most permanent legacy is life.

You’ve searched for that, haven’t you?​

Theophilus’ breathing began to become tense, though he pushed it beneath a slowly growing frustration. It was true, he had been seeking to find a sensible heir, but such emotions and wishes were ones only those in his closest circle knew.

What if I told you that I had found it?

​

Would you consider?
​

Though all rational thought told him to stop reading and simply throw the letter array, it had struck a nerve that he had though had long since dulled.

But a businessman such as yourself must realize...

All it takes is the proper price. ​

Do you accept?​

The noble elder remained fixated in his spot, continuing to read and re-read the letter in an almost neurotic fashion. But what did it mean by a price? What was the price of a legacy? Those were more long term questions, for right now he didn’t even know who the writer was. Who knew about his desire for an heir? More importantly, what help did they want in return?

 

[lilmangoseed]

At the bottom of the page, the final sentence was a single statement.

"The seed of life awaits in your carriage home."



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