Etiquette

Shemha followed as she always did one step behind and half a step to the right of her master. The position made it clear who was in charge of the duo, a common formation for those who travelled as a group. A foremost position was always one of power, save for the times it was used to employ a decoy, but Ront would never allow such a thing even if he had the means. As they walked the human never looked back to his companion for there was no need. He trusted her enough that checking on her was not a requirement, Shemha was well conditioned. Even when he spoke, he did not turn his head; it was her job to make sure she heard each word that came from his mouth.

”So, do you understand why this is a necessary meeting Shemha?” The pair on their way to meet a former client, one who had recently been mouthing complaints above services not rendered.

”Yes, Master. Gerard Capashen, a former client, has continued to claim his contract unfulfilled. A lie of course as you completed the contract several months ago now, but one he has chosen to spread. We are going to pay him a visit in order to clear up this misunderstanding.” Her answer was for the most part a redistribution of the words she had heard Ront speak in the last few days, some colorful language removed. Shemha had always been an observant girl and rather smart, the human mercenary’s investment into her education thankfully not a waste. However, her limited ability to think for herself often limited her problem solving capabilities. For that reason she had missed the true meaning of his question. The Majin had not been wrong, but there was a major goal here that she had missed.

”That is part of it. What we are doing here is of course important, but why we are doing it is what I need you to understand. Gerard, as you stated, has claimed on multiple occasions that I did not fulfill the contract struck between himself and I. We both know that is not the truth, but there are countless others who have only heard his tale without a single word of the truth. If he continues to slander my good name it will result in less business and ultimately damage to my reputation. My reputation is everything. From what I have been told, he has only shared his woes with members of local bars, but it is only a matter of time before it spreads. Should it be allowed to travel too much, it will be even harder to contain. The best way to confront a problem is to address it at its center. If he had a problem, he should have done the same and come to me first.” Ront had no intentions of letting anyone hurt his hard earned reputation.

Behind him, Shemha took a moment to digest his words. She was well aware how hard Ront worked to keep up his image and his reputation and in all honesty, the thought of someone discrediting him for no apparent reason angered her. Now her version of angry was vastly different than most others, for not even her expression changed as the emotion filtered through her. Long ago she had been taught to contain such feelings, whether positive or negative and years of practice had made her an expert. ”Understood. So that is why we are visiting him at his home then, to keep matters private?” Shemha honestly curious to the reason for the location, Ront was not known to do house calls.

”Exactly. There we can discuss this matter and bring it to a close. Besides, men like him often find courage in the presence of others so it is best to meet him alone. As usual I will do the talking; I have only brought you along so you might see how to handle such things in case I require it of you in the future. Make sure you are taking notes.” He did want her to see how this went down; let her learn how such problems should be dealt with. On top of that, if a negotiation could not be reached, the Majin would be integral in plan B. Hopefully it would not come to that, but Ront was not a man who came unprepared.

”Yes, Sir.” The short response wasn’t really required, for she always did as she was told, but it was polite to answer. As rough around the edges as Ront often was, he made sure his servant always displayed proper manners when she dealt with anyone. Such things mattered to him and his past contacts lack of them seemed to irk her master almost as much as the damage the man was doing to his professional reputation.

In silence the duo made their way down several more streets, the outskirts of South Capitol rather quiet at this time. With the Sun almost fully set in the distance, dark shadows stretched across the streets as if trying to hide those that walked them. Ront had not made stealth a point, but the time of day had been chosen specifically for its lower traffic. Many were home eating or had arrived at whatever nighttime activity they had chosen, the transition back home not yet underway. That gave them time to talk with Gerard in private and before he joined his late night crowd at the local watering hole. Several more minutes would pass before they reached his home, the small house caught somewhere between a standalone apartment and a true home. Without hesitation, Ront knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

The gruff and heavily slurred response left little question about the man’s current state. It appeared his trips to the bar were not his only run-ins with alcohol. With a barely audible sigh, Ront shoved the door open to step into the man’s home. Shemha followed in silence like always before she gently shut the door behind them. By the time she had turned back around

Ront and Gerard were in the middle of a staring contest. While Gerard struggled to keep a rigid stance comparable to her master’s, he never broke eye contact. Both had chosen to decline speaking first, a common negotiating tactic.
For another moment the three stood without a sound. Shemha had nothing to say, Ront stood as motionless as an oak and
Gerard swayed in his chair as if caught in an unseen wind. The drunk was the first to speak.

“I am shocked…you actually…showed your face…” The man took another swig from the bottle that sat beside him on the table. “Especially after you…screwed me over like you did. I plan to make sure you never get another….contract in these parts for as…long as you live.” His narrowed eyes attempted to convey confidence and anger, but the lazy looking stare communicated nothing of the sort. Even if the proper message had been sent, Shemha knew Ront would not fold against it.

”I fulfilled our contract to the letter. It is not my fault that your wife was dead before I got there. I cannot deliver someone who is already gone. Perhaps if you spent some time away from the drink, you might realize that?” It was the truth. He had agreed to find the man’s missing wife and he had found her, dead in an alley. Some thugs didn’t care who got in there way when they saw something they wanted. The savages had been dealt with and the sad news delivered. That was all Ront had been responsible for.

“It’s your fault! If you had gotten their more quickly…she would have been safe!” The drunk rising from his chair as if to seem more menacing, the ensuing stumble not exactly backing up his threatening words. All Ront could do was roll his eyes. This clearly wasn’t going to be something the man was willing to negotiate. The human mercenary had never loved anyone so feelings were not part of the equation for him. He had done his job and that was that, he would not suffer damage to his reputation no matter how heartbroken a former client might be.

”I fulfilled my part of the contract in as timely a matter as I could. However, I can see you think the outcome of these events was my fault, no matter how asinine that is. Regardless, you need to keep your mouth shut. You are starting to cost me business and that is something I cannot tolerate.” Those who knew Ront well, like Shemha, would know the man was getting to the end of his rope. When he needed to be the mercenary was a patient man, but he had little tolerance for stupid.

Gerard’s hand slammed to the table, a clear sign that the two men were not going to see eye to eye on this. “I will say whatever…I want, when I want. People need to know…the truth. Everyone will know how…you truly are…and you won’t be able…to find a single job in the entire gal….”

Before Gerard or Shemha realized what had happened, it was over. Faster than the Majin was able to follow, Ront was next to Gerard and a single pop echoed through the small house. Then like a sack of rocks, the man’s body crumpled to the floor at the mercenary’s feet. She wasn’t exactly started by the action, but she had not anticipated it. How quickly her master had ended the drunk’s life was a sobering reminder of how seriously he took his reputation and how ruthlessly he handled those who took action against him.

”As I said before Shemha, a man’s reputation is everything. It was clear there would be no agreement on this.” As expected, Ront did not seem bothered at all by what had just transpired. Taking the man’s life was just a solution to a problem. Of course there was one more step to make sure none of this was tied back to him, tied to anyone actually. With a gesture he ensures that Gerard’s body would never be found. ”Take care of this, Shemha.”

”As you wish.” The Majin then stepped towards the man. Once close enough she dropped to her knees before she fell forward. As she did, the girl’s body stretched and expanded so that by the time she made contact with Gerard’s corpse she was able to spread over it like a red blanket. As she stretched further, her form covered his, enveloping it completely. In less than a minute the task was complete, the former client’s body gone as Shemha rose back to her feet. It was not the first time she had done such a thing and it was likely not the last. Her magical and unique nature had been the main reason Ront had been so interested in her purchase those years ago. What law bending mercenary didn’t want a quick and effective way to dispose of a body or two?

Now one might think why not take advantage of a now abandoned home and the possession within it, but Ront had his own code. The quick altercation had been solved and that is what he had come here for. Theft or destruction of property was not needed. If others had seen him visit, there was no direct evidence that would implicate him. Suspicions might arise, but they would fade just as quickly and then disappear.

With a slight nod the mercenary had his servant in tow as he headed towards the door. ”This sort of business is not something I enjoy, but not everything in life is fun. If proper etiquette cannot be followed there are bound to be negative consequences. Make sure to remember that Shemha.” As always a “Yes, Master” followed. Ront was always providing her with lessons, some a little more hands on than others.

(Zeni please! )