Tale as Old As Time [Finished]

[yamikuronue]

Lance runs a hand through his hair. "You're the money wizard, figure it out," he grumbles.

Siegfried clears his throat. "Well. Right. Let's lay out the options, at least. Ms Schallen's suggestions seem reasonable on the face of it, yes?"

[CalamityJade]

Morden sighed. "You do realize that I'm not a money wizard. One, that would be illegal and immoral, and two my rates would be MUCH higher if I was going to pull money from thin air." He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "So, how about we work on sifting through all the accounts, make sure what's being paid to where and see about getting more in and less out, huh?"

[yamikuronue]

Lance sinks into a chair, hanging his head into his hands. "Sure. Whatever you two say works for me."

Siegfried takes a seat in the chair next to him, swallowing. "...So in that regards.... Shall we crunch some numbers?"

[accalia]

Julie: Indeed. I would like to get a fuller accounting so i can firm up my numbers.

[yamikuronue]

And so the afternoon flies past. The finances are in really good shape; it's a good thing both professionals are comfortable with seven and eight figure numbers being thrown around, because when you get down to property costs and principles invested, that's the kind of numbers they're looking at. The money to restore the house should be no concern at all.... except for Lance.

Lance doesn't want to touch the money in the account that was once Muriel's trust fund unless it's to give it all to Obsidian. Lance doesn't want to sell any of his company shares, nor the shares he was given that used to be Obsidian's. Lance doesn't want to change any of the investment choices his father made on any of his accounts. Lance doesn't want to even think about the other properties, declaring it dull. Lance's trust fund is small, but he's willing to change investment strategies there... which is good, because the income from that mostly covers the property taxes, salaries, and upkeep for the household at the moment.

Siegfried grows quieter and quieter the more Lance objects, until finally he pops off to make tea and fresh-baked scones for everyone just so he has something else to DO. It's clear his advice is neither wanted nor needed by the Young Master he diligently serves; as he slides the scone tray into the oven and sinks into a chair, a feeling of sheer exhaustion washes over him. What's even the point? he wonders to himself. He's worked so hard, for so long, and it's all being thrown away for the whims of a childish young man with a guilt complex...

"Maybe I should quit," he murmurs to himself, rubbing at his temples.

[CalamityJade]

(post withdrawn by author, will be automatically deleted in 24 hours unless flagged)

[CalamityJade]

Morden was...rather frustrated with this. The kid wouldn't change anything and he wouldn't DO anything. How the hell was he supposed to get anything done if the only thing they could change was HIS personal account?! Sure, there were options, but they were slim.

Obsidian was also getting rather irritated, but it was mostly with Lance's attitude. If he didn't want to mess with what he thought was his family's legacy, he could get that. But just blowing shit off because it's boring?! That was getting a little far. "So...Lance, are you doing this on purpose or are you just that out of touch?" And, of course, he wasn't just going to let that stand.

[accalia]

Julie spends a long time doing the numbers before sighing.

Julie: i really wish you would reconsider on reinvesting those stocks chosen by your father Master Lance, they were excellent picks ten and fifteen years ago but those sectors are stagnating or declining now. If we could update those investments to a more modern portfolio we could easily double what they are making. The trust funds.... those are tricky. Lots of strings attached to those usually and I don't have the original investiture documents for those. there might be nothing we can do about them.

Julie pauses to take a sip of tea provided by Siegfried. She hums happily at the taste and thanks Siegfried in an aside.

Julie: The Overseas properties... It would probably be best to sell them. They're not a moneymaker for you now and with their locations and current market value selling them would give you a significant infusion of cash which will be much needed. I'm seeing a lot of assets on your books but very little liquid reserves, and you are going to need that for the renovations and restorations you wanted to do to this property.

[yamikuronue]

Lance ignores his uncle to address Julie: "Absolutely not. Those properties belonged to my mother." He runs a hand through his hair. "I can do what I like with my own trust, I'm of age now, so perhaps we reinvest that in a totally different way. The other trust, hell, if he won't take it, put it aside for his children, for someday."

[CalamityJade]

Obsidian gave Lance a look. "One, I CAN'T take them. We went over that. Two, you're assuming a lot of things about my life, and three, If you're THAT worried about it, take out half of the trust so these people can do their damn jobs!"

[yamikuronue]

"Which, my trust? Take it all if you want. I've no use for it."

[accalia]

An audible sigh erupts from Julie

Julie: I can see why that man suggested i come by. Really, if you won't sell those properties you are hamstringing me here. You have tens of millions here on the books, but very little of it is fungible. If you want me to make the money work for you I've got to me able to make it dance, to run, to howl at the moon even. if it's locked away in real estate and an investment portfolio that you won't change that leaves me very little to work with.

A clack of pen on the table as Julie sets down her notepad

Julie: Your trust fund is a very healthy one and i can work with it, but to really do the sort of work that i was contacted to do i need more cash, and if i'm going to be brutally honest you are going to as well. This location here is nice but it has been too long shut in too much darkness has grown here for it to be maintained on what you have available to you. You need money to renovate and repair this place and i can get you that money, but only if you give me something to work with.

[CalamityJade]

Morden sighed. "Which would make balancing all THIS much more doable." He motioned towards the several binders of records. "Sure, I can track down where all the money is going, but even then it'll take a while to go through whatever systems were in place a decade ago, and by then you'll start having other problems. Hell, I'm surprised that Seigfried was able to keep everything as far in the black as he has, and you're not helping that."

[yamikuronue]

Lance sets his jaw. "Then let the house rot. I'm not dismantling anything my father built."

Siegfried sighs, rubbing at his temples again. "Lance. If your father were here, he'd have re-balanced the investments years ago. They wouldn't look anything like they did a decade ago by now. So really, it's more treacherous to --"

"Don't you fucking dare lecture me about treachery and honor, like you've ever had any!" Lance's voice is suddenly harsh as he lurches to his feet, breathing heavily through his nose.

Siegfried's shoulders droop. "I suppose not," he says, softly, before laying his head in his arms on the table.

[CalamityJade]

Obsidian was rather quick to snap at that. "What in the actual FUCK is wrong with you?" He was quick to get out of his seat and head right for Lance. "You know fucking well that he's the ONLY reason you have anything right now! He busts his ass dealing with YOUR shit and you're going to give him crap for it!"