Tale as Old As Time [Finished]

[yamikuronue]

Siegfried shakes his head. "I got a taste of his anger today, and it's far bitterer than I had expected. He still blames me for old, old hurts, more than twenty years gone."

[CalamityJade]

Morden shrugged. "It looked like your hand was hurt when you picked up the silverware. Thought you might have hurt yourself leafing through all this paperwork." he chuckled, obviously meaning it as a joke. Still, he seemed to be looking at the same hand as before for a moment before returning to her.

[yamikuronue]

Lance starts, glancing up at Julie, surprised. "Oh, uh... if you... wait, what? Seriously, what?" He shakes his head, as though rejecting a stupid idea. "If you're allergic to silver like me, we have stainless steel..." Yeah, probably an allergy. Probably.

[accalia]

Julie: Ah, my apologies, I have an allergy to certain metals, and unfortunately silver is one of them. The allergy is quite acute, but fortunately not long lived and not life threatening, provided i don't try top swallow any of it.

Julie laughs softly but not unkindly.

"As he might, but then he has been brewing for ten years on events that have no import, the anger will pass. It is perhaps stronger now because this one has arrived and caused his entire world view to shift suddenly. People do not take it kindly when that sort of thing happens. At least not in the short term."

Echo's plate of food continues to remain untouched in front of him,

"This will pass, as all things do and this one is sure you will find yoursife in your rightful place in the end."

[yamikuronue]

Siegfried sighs. "But what place is rightfully mine? To hear the Young Master tell, this is merely a job like any other, one I have no expectation of being allowed to keep."

[CalamityJade]

Morden nodded. "I apologize, then. I doubt you wanted that sort of thing pointed out." He went back to eating, though he seemed to have less fervor for it. "This IS quite good. Seigfried still fails to disappoint."

[accalia]

"Your place is here, with the family, even one such as this one can see that. this one does not know if you belong here as a servant of as family, but this one knows that here is where you belong. and here you shall stay if you wish it."

laughing Julie waves away any hint that she may have taken offense

Julie: Fear not kind sir, I feel no shame in my condition. for while i do make a point of not mentioning it to avoid unnecessary attention, be it good or bad, it is part of who i am.

Julie pauses to return her utensils to their hidden pocket in her  vest

Julie: Indeed so. This man Siegfried is a positive genius in the kitchen. Mr. Horen could stand to learn a thing or two from him!

[yamikuronue]

Siegfried sighs. "Before his death, the old Master promised I would always have a place here, even if... But now I am orphaned, and the Young Master seems unlikely to honor that promise."

Lance gets up to grab Julie utensils that match his. "I guess."

[CalamityJade]

"Call me old fashioned, but I've found it best not to call too much attention to things people try to keep to themselves. At least not if you aren't prepared for whatever trouble would follow it." Morden tilted his head. "Mr. Horen...I imagine that's who referred you to our gracious hosts?"

[accalia]

Once again julie laughs, bright and high

Julie: Good heavens no, Mr. Hören is one of my business partners! We are "Schallen, Schreien and Hören" a well known investment firm, among certain circles anyway. No, I was contacted by... well he never has given me his real name. When I met him.... oh eighty some odd years ago, he called himself "Dröhnen" said it was his "facename". He helped me through a particularly rough time and I owe him a lot for that. I gather he calls himself "Echo" these days.

"hmm... not in the heat of the moment certainly, but he is trying to do the right thing and he does seem to fixate on keeping the word of his father. This one is sure that this storm will pass. Or is there something more personal that makes you so worried?"

[yamikuronue]

Siegfried looks at his untouched plate. "He blames me for a crime his father committed. I can understand his not wanting to blame his father, but... it isn't my fault I was born, by any stretch of the imagination."

[CalamityJade]

Obsidian made a sort of face at that. He hadn't heard of "facenames" let alone what they might mean. He may need to move up trying to figure their guest out a little faster. He didn't seem like a threat...but neither had Lance's wounds and look where that had gotten them.

Morden quired an eyebrow. "That's...not one I'm familiar with...though most of my clients are a case-by-case basis. The Roidmets were one of my earlier clients and seem to find my work suitable so far."

[accalia]

A shrug from Julie at Morden's words

Julie: We cater to a rather unconventional segment. outside of that segment we try to keep a low profile. I'm glad to see that Mr. Hören 's efforts in that respect have not been in vain. If you are in a segment that we service you would be aware of us.

"Hmm.... that is a great and terrible burden to carry, but to force another to carry it for one is.... worse. This one would like to know, if you are willing, to know what it is you are blamed for..."

[yamikuronue]

Siegfried manages a weary smile. "I suppose it hurts nothing to admit. My father was... also the Young Master's father, though we do not share a mother."

[accalia]

Echo laughs in surprise, there is no censure, or judgement in his laugh, only surprise

"Is that all? Certainly that would be a terribly shameful thing ten or twenty years ago, but now? no. It is a sad thing, true, but there is no shame to be had, least of all by the children of such a situation. It is truly as you said, You had no choice in the matter, so why should you have any blame or guilt for it?"

Echo picks up his fork and idly plays with his food, still not eating.

"This one thinks if you be but patient for a while longer the Master will come to understand and will stop blaming you for something that you has no part in."