To say that Semael was disappointed with the response would be an understatement. A rush of anger was quickly doused with composure. He felt that there was something else going on here. This all seemed a little too rehearsed, almost like Anderson had been setup and wasn't really in control here. Despite his feelings, his Deva eyes never betrayed what was going through his mind.
"Mr. Sharug, I can understand your frustration, especially at seeing your own father tortured. Any normal person will be looking for justice, if not revenge in your situation. I'm sure you don't know this, but the instant I heard your father was kidnapped I did some research of my own in an attempt to find out what happened and how we could help."
This time was Semael's. He found it easy to maintain his calm, but he had to keep control of the conversation until he had made his rebuttal. Sharug Jr. had already made a grab for control of the entire situation, and it was time to put him in his place. Semael had to set him off kilter.
"Perhaps you didn't know that the beating your father took was for your sake, not mine. The people that visited him had no indication that myself nor my party were involved with him at all. They came to perform a regular shake down and collect protection money. It was when your father made a case for your new shop that things got messy."
A slight pause to let the words sink in before taking another knock at Sharug Jr's confidence. He had put forth a very confident front, and Semael wasn't sure how much of an effect he had had up to this point.
"You should know that the deal I made with your father was very fair to both parties. It may be that because of our deal we helped your shop grow fast enough that Archon's attention was turned your direction, but it would have come with or without us, and how you react to that pressure is entirely independent of our deal. The only effect we had was the timing. There was no part of it that said your father could not comply in order to preserve his business or his life."
"Now, perhaps it's the inexperience of youth, or per chance your emotions have overwhelmed your sense of reason, but I don't believe you have thought through the ramifications of your proposal. Please let me explain what you are really proposing, and then I will give you until tomorrow night to reconsider while I do some further investigation of the options."
Without waiting for even as much as a nod, Semael continued. His tone was factual, but not lecturing. He exuded confidence in his position without a hint of condescension.
"Constable Harken has access to all town records. He certainly knows, as I know, that the shop next door is not for sale. He also knows what type of business the shop does. So, if it is then sold to me, or one of my party, and THEN sold to you at a 15% loss, our alliance will be exposed to Constable Harken, and therefore to Archon. If you believe you had pressure before, then you are sorely mistaken. Your father hasn't said anything, and I can only assume the price he paid for wanting to help you start your shop was his tongue. There is certainly no reason to expose our deal until we have been able to clean up the streets even more to make it more safe for you and your family. My party and I have made every effort to keep our professional relationship private, and this would negate all of that."
Semael paused for a moment, allowing the blank stare of a Deva to unsettle Sharug Jr. The silence lingered for a moment before Sharug Jr. shifted a bit. At that moment Semael continued.
"I'll make no comment regarding you're proposition until I talk to the rest of my party, and I would expect you to do the same with your father, but know that the conditions you put forward are quite extreme."
Semael then turned to Anders, "I'm very sorry for the pain you have been through, and I pray to Bahamut for your safety and continued prosperity regardless of how our deal works out" he finishes with a respectful nod. He then takes a small throwing dagger from the display table, setting down enough gold to cover the cost and then some. "In order to maintain pretenses" he says, without turning around.
As the knife easily shaves his bites of cheese on the walk back to the inn, Semael's respect for Anderson's skill at the anvil only increases. This had not gone as expected at all. Semael had hoped to simply touch base and ensure Anderson was safe and ok, and then have him take a look at Hacksaw's sword. It looks like that will probably have to come much later.
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branchandroot
AM 6-26-1043
Date: 2010-06-15 05:26 am (UTC)"Mr. Sharug, I can understand your frustration, especially at seeing your own father tortured. Any normal person will be looking for justice, if not revenge in your situation. I'm sure you don't know this, but the instant I heard your father was kidnapped I did some research of my own in an attempt to find out what happened and how we could help."
This time was Semael's. He found it easy to maintain his calm, but he had to keep control of the conversation until he had made his rebuttal. Sharug Jr. had already made a grab for control of the entire situation, and it was time to put him in his place. Semael had to set him off kilter.
"Perhaps you didn't know that the beating your father took was for your sake, not mine. The people that visited him had no indication that myself nor my party were involved with him at all. They came to perform a regular shake down and collect protection money. It was when your father made a case for your new shop that things got messy."
A slight pause to let the words sink in before taking another knock at Sharug Jr's confidence. He had put forth a very confident front, and Semael wasn't sure how much of an effect he had had up to this point.
"You should know that the deal I made with your father was very fair to both parties. It may be that because of our deal we helped your shop grow fast enough that Archon's attention was turned your direction, but it would have come with or without us, and how you react to that pressure is entirely independent of our deal. The only effect we had was the timing. There was no part of it that said your father could not comply in order to preserve his business or his life."
"Now, perhaps it's the inexperience of youth, or per chance your emotions have overwhelmed your sense of reason, but I don't believe you have thought through the ramifications of your proposal. Please let me explain what you are really proposing, and then I will give you until tomorrow night to reconsider while I do some further investigation of the options."
Without waiting for even as much as a nod, Semael continued. His tone was factual, but not lecturing. He exuded confidence in his position without a hint of condescension.
"Constable Harken has access to all town records. He certainly knows, as I know, that the shop next door is not for sale. He also knows what type of business the shop does. So, if it is then sold to me, or one of my party, and THEN sold to you at a 15% loss, our alliance will be exposed to Constable Harken, and therefore to Archon. If you believe you had pressure before, then you are sorely mistaken. Your father hasn't said anything, and I can only assume the price he paid for wanting to help you start your shop was his tongue. There is certainly no reason to expose our deal until we have been able to clean up the streets even more to make it more safe for you and your family. My party and I have made every effort to keep our professional relationship private, and this would negate all of that."
Semael paused for a moment, allowing the blank stare of a Deva to unsettle Sharug Jr. The silence lingered for a moment before Sharug Jr. shifted a bit. At that moment Semael continued.
"I'll make no comment regarding you're proposition until I talk to the rest of my party, and I would expect you to do the same with your father, but know that the conditions you put forward are quite extreme."
Semael then turned to Anders, "I'm very sorry for the pain you have been through, and I pray to Bahamut for your safety and continued prosperity regardless of how our deal works out" he finishes with a respectful nod. He then takes a small throwing dagger from the display table, setting down enough gold to cover the cost and then some. "In order to maintain pretenses" he says, without turning around.
As the knife easily shaves his bites of cheese on the walk back to the inn, Semael's respect for Anderson's skill at the anvil only increases. This had not gone as expected at all. Semael had hoped to simply touch base and ensure Anderson was safe and ok, and then have him take a look at Hacksaw's sword. It looks like that will probably have to come much later.