Balancing the Books

[conjuredskies]

Here’s someone who hasn’t shown his face in public for a while. Felix is sitting on the old Legion desk in his Legion leathers, a small pile of books beside him. For those who get close enough to look, they’re all reference books about Earth, including a children’s encyclopedia and a dictionary. The mage himself still looks a little sleepless, but he’s in far better shape than the gaunt, distracted wraith who showed up for the Halloween party. There’s color in his face, an easy confidence in his posture… and with his hood down around his shoulders, his hair looks like it’s back to its normal black.

Felix draws a deep breath that has nothing at all to do with the letter he’s pretending to read, then folds it and flashes the nearest Nexus-goers a quick smile.

“How forgiving you are you of debts?” he asks. “Those you’re owed, and those you owe.”

Comments

[turningcolors]

"I keep immaculate records. Debts are not things to take lightly."

There's a woman with bright reddish orange hair standing nearby the desk, though when she's shown up or whence she came from are difficult things to ascertain. Ever mindful of the season and the weather Hazel is dressed in dark brown leggings underneath a deep red dress and boots. She wears a half jacket, gloves, and a scarf over her dress to keep out the worst of the Winter's chill. Definitely dressed like an Earther.

"What I owe, I pay. Promptly and respectfully. What I am owed I collect. It's the only way to keep the scales balanced. When one side doesn't hold their end of the bargain it breaks everything for any future transactions."

[conjuredskies]

Felix nods along agreeably enough, studying the unfamiliar woman all the while. So many new faces since he's been... preoccupied. He really needs to get back on top of things.

"And if the debt couldn't be repaid immediately?" he asks. "It's not always simple to repay a service rendered. Suppose you didn't know how to repay? Perhaps it's something you can't repay at all."

[turningcolors]

Hazel's green eyes follow Felix's every movement. She seems to be as curious about him as he is her, though she makes no attempts to hide that interest while she listens to the Imperial speak his mind.

"Why would you agree to a debt you couldn't repay? That seems ill advised. A deal with the devil, so to speak. An invitation for trouble." The woman folds her arms and brings one hand up to tuck her chin into thoughtfully.

"A negotiation over the terms is one thing. It's not always possible to pay right away. If a harvest does not align with a purchase one wishes to make, trading directly is impossible. But it's important to be responsible when drawing up a bargain. It's irresponsible to enter into an arrangement you knowingly cannot uphold."

[conjuredskies]

"It's certainly unwise. Sad to say, but not all debts are planned up with clear sight and a level head. Sometimes they come entirely by surprise. I suppose it's a clichéd example, but suppose someone stepped in to save your life in a desperate moment? Or gave you a chance when no-one else would? How do you begin to repay that?"

[turningcolors]

"Ah, a social debt."

She nods then, walking the length of the polished wooden table several times while she thinks. The loose snow swirls around her feet with every swift turn she makes at each end of the table.

"These are tricky because value is different to each person. The wisest thing would be to turn the question around. Suppose you risked yourself to save someone's life. Trusted them when they were ostracized and alone? What would you expect in return?"

[conjuredskies]

"You'd ask that of each person you helped?" He looks innocent, as if he's not sidestepping the questions at all. His eyes flick down once or twice, to the way the snow swirls around her feet, caught up by the breeze. "It seems a little dangerous, to let everyone set their own price. Or at least, unfair to the honest."

[turningcolors]

"We were not talking about me. I can't hardly imagine a situation where anyone would be saving my life. Nor any reason for someone not to give me a chance if I wished to endeavor to do something. I'm no criminal and not one for taking risks."

At least, no situation in which a human would have to save her life. What could they do that she herself could not?

"Are you implying you're not honest then? That you would repay for less than what you would ask? The scales must be equal if balance is to remain between you and your benefactor."

[conjuredskies]

"But I can use all the chances I get, and so here I am, asking what payment others expect. Yourself included."

He waves aside the question about his own honesty with a smile. "I prefer to deal in favors, myself. Balance tends not to be such a pressing concern, especially when dealing with those more powerful than myself."

[turningcolors]

"Ah, now if I were to save your life, I would ask for your service to my Season. The complexity of which would depend on what I had to do in order to secure your safety. Something simple would require less service than something that put me in danger, for example."

Hazel smiles then, and it's the same sort of proud look Felix has seen before on Other Spirits. She doesn't let her grin pull over her teeth but it is a near thing.

"Work a harvest, host an event to commemorate the dead. Help build a stores to last through the winter. For however many seasons are agreed upon."

[conjuredskies]

Oho. Now it becomes clear who he's dealing with. Felix doesn't obviously tense up, but something about his expression becomes that bit wilier as he reassesses her. Harmless though she may act, this is a dangerous lady. All the more because she likely has terrible powers which don't count as violence in the eyes of the Nexus.

Felix doesn't consider this a bad thing, of course.

"I take it that I have the honor of speaking with a spirit, then? And which season is yours?"

[turningcolors]

"Autumn, of course. Fall. Harvest season."

This human is interesting. No disbelief, no fear, but no arrogance either. If she had to guess, she'd say he was almost pleased to be speaking with her. A curious reaction indeed. Especially given she's outside of her Season.

"I am of Reynard's kind, yes. You know him then?"