A Matter of Family

    Elly has spent a few days with Uta in her wagon, and has had time to make observations of the one called Dosbox, a gnome who apparently is interested in working with Haru and learning from him. This time has allowed her to make a rather detailed assessment. The results of this led to a brief chim from Elly to Haru, to setup a time when they can properly chim to each other in privacy. It turns out to be early in the morning that works best in this case.

    "Good morning, Haru," is the warm greeting. No need for 'master' or the kind of titles that were cast about so commonly before. There is a different, more intimate communication from her now.

    "I apologize for my abrupt message earlier. Thank you for finding time for this. I would not trouble you if it did not seem important."

    With the sincere pleasantries thus expressed, she dives into the details. "Uta came to Eas a few days ago, traveling with a male gnome named Dosbox. He is also known as Borywick. From what I have learned, she found him in Shibuya, where he was apparently loitering outside your shop, hoping to speak with you. He says he wishes to learn from you. To be your apprentice, as he says."

    Her delivery is calm, though her word choice intentionally demonstrates her suspicions and concerns. In short, she does not like this situation.

    "Knowing that this man was going to travel with Uta in her wagon, I have made a point of tagging along, to ensure that all is well and to learn more. Tae is also here. We agree that it seems this man is harmless, but I'm still rather wary. He's from the Scale Emblem." She does not explicitly say what she wants Haru to do at this point, but the way she phrases things, the hesitation carefully placed between words, demonstrates a desire to call upon and defer to his judgment.

There is a chim back in a matter of minutes. Haru often appears busy as he makes himself accessible for these matters. Doubly so for people such as Elly and Uta. "The gnomish hobo that has been stalking me as potentially the worst cross-alliance spy I have seen since a certain Sylph we know?" he mentions without naming names. "I find this arrangement unsettling. While I do not see the need to outright reject an apprenticeship proposal, it is not a proposal. I do not see what is being offered for it nor how I should trust someone with the fruits of my labor when I don't know what they stand for. Giving a knife to my enemy to stab me with is foolish." There is a certain acidity to his voice at the notion that they are now 'stalking' people close to him. "My affairs have adversely affected you, Uta, and Tae. Can you give me an idea of where you are? I will address this. Personally."

    Haru's response and measurement of the situation is direct, blunt, and so comforting. There is a familiar feeling in this moment. It reminds her of how her brother took his place at the head of their family and how her father acted before he passed away.

    "I don't know what to make him of, honestly. But I have concerns about his mental stability. He refers to himself in negative terms with some frequency." A pause as Elly senses her emotions seem eager to be expressed. She considers this and allows it to happen. It fits what she senses as the appropriate relationship with Haru in this context. She doesn't assign it a name, but it overtly informal. "I trust your sister and I know she can take care of herself in most things. But she is a very beautiful young woman and he is man." There is no way in hell she's going to risk someone she loves. "And I am not at all troubled to stay with her, of course, now and always. Oh, and right now we are encamped just to the southeast of Breg Epona. I can easily delay us here for a day or two. Uta wants to get a yurt, and I will be arranging that. There are a lot of options we can look over and an orphanage to visit."

    She sighs softly. "I'm sorry to force you to make this journey, Haru. I know how busy you are. But I would be grateful if you could come here."

"Do not let the idea of changing plans to travel out be a concern. I appreciate being informed so I can make the call. Yumi is capable of minding the store. Shiruba is capable of minding the guild affairs. Shibuya does not need me there every day to stand," Haru says, having a good measure of how important he is or is not in relation to many things. It may not seem the case, but he shows his trust in others through acts of service instead of words of affirmation. "Even if they did, addressing this gnome business is more important," he says as the 'natural fire' heats up through the tempered glass plate of his business-like demeanor. He isn't frustrated or bothered. He is angry. There are sounds of hastily getting things together and going to his Peko, Karen.

"I will trust you to keep information and advances to a minimum, as I am sure you already are doing," Haru says as if he is going through a mental checklist of what can be done before he gets there. "My arrival need not be a surprise event. I have business in Breg Epona, a far as anyone outside yourself, Uta, and Tae are concerned. The distribution of the stained glass commodity in the area. Market distribution. Orphanage contributions from the profits. But in truth," he gets on his Peko, "I will be putting a small business proposition to rest."

    Elly nods thoughtfully to, well, no one. This news and Haru's urgency put her at ease. Only this feeling of growing calm makes her realize just how wound-up she was. It is something that briefly surprises her and then passes as she finds herself settling into so natural a role. Everything just makes sense. All is right with the world.

    "I understand. I will let the others know when shortly that you will be in the area. And thank you so much, the contributions to the orphanage means so much to me and to the children." It makes her suddenly emotional, as well. She lets this come and pass with a pause.

    "I know your sister will be so happy to see you, too. That will be joyous news to share!" Uta's excitement is contagious to Elly, and getting to tell her something fun makes it doubly so. A pause, then, and natural as if this were not at all a shift in tone, "And if he acts out of line in the least while you are on the way, I will deal with him." If he so much as brings a tear to Uta's eye the Baroness will come out of retirement and reduce him to a burst of pixels so fast that the game might not even properly register combat was initiated.

    Once again, back to the pleasantries, "I look forward to seeing you, too. I wish Eas were closer to Shibuya. I'd like to be able to drop into your shop and see what you are doing." And probably make sure he's eaten. "But I know you have important things to do, even if others are able to keep the lights on, they'll be needing you to keep the ship on course."