Hilaremont sat across from a older man, older to him by many turn. Lord Silmontaix would have to be on point for this conversation. His younger colleagues and targets were easy pickings in comparison. This would be an actual challenge. And nearly the entire discussion, Hilaremont was on the defensive.
“So you believe your establishment should allow employees to run their own schedules and act freely. How do you get them to work without risk of them escaping? Or worse, pulling back the velvet curtain you so painstakingly fashioned?” Lord Cleabert sipped his tea, tea he brought himself. He knows Hilaremont’s game.
“If we treat them as products and not people they have no respect for us, and in turn no respect for the craft, the profession and ultimately the client.” Hilaremont sipped his own tea. Tea he already had here. Can’t have a tea house front without actual quality tea.
“Not to discredit the profession, but-” He peers around the room before leaning in, his old bones almost creaking like the chair. “-the women are here for the clients enjoyment. Not for-”
“If you enjoy your work and those you work for, performance is vastly improved.” Hilaremont cut Cleabert off and stared firmly at him. Yes this was a Courtesan establishment. Lewd and lascivious acts done by women, and men. Hilaremont knew the clientele. But that said, he still actually cared for those under his employ.
“Mind yourself Hilaremont. You care too deeply, you’ll feel the hurt when it all falls apart.” Lord Cleabert smirked and finished his tea, setting it down and tapping his cup, looking expectantly.
“At least I know I will have felt something for my fellow countrymen, no matter their place and role in this world.” He stands up abruptly and staggers as soon as he is upright, clutching his head and stumbling onto the table.
“Get ahold of yourself man. That whole ‘care too much’ seems to have taken its toll on you.” A smug look and another tap of his teacup. He was making sure Hilaremont knew his place.
Exhaling shakily, he nearly shot a glare at the insufferable prick of his 'guest’. Standing upright, he lifted the teapot, and with proper etiquette poured a new cup of tea with one pot and set it down, taking the second pot of tea and pouring one for himself. Two separate tea pots.
“Better to care too much than not at all.” He slid a small pouch from his coat, and poured the powder from it into his tea, stirring it. Lord Cleabert watched on smirking and sipping his tea.
“Medicine for your dizzy spell?” Cleabert chortled and sipped again.
Hilaremont tried not to be too hasty to drink his tea, but he did empty the cup in a mere few sips, before exhaling slowly. “Antidote.” He cleared his throat and pulled a handkerchief from his coat and wiped his brow as Cleabert eyed him and then his tea. “It cost me quite alot coin to procure your favorite tea. But no price is too steep when you care as deeply as I do.”
“You son of a bitch.” He glares from his seat and extends his hand. “You will give me that antodote right now. Should I fall here my sons will have your head.”
Hilaremont looked down at Cleabert and handed him a parchment. Looking between the two he opens it and color drains from his face. “Your sons should hide contraband better. Thankfully they’re much more careless then you. Will be a shame to lose the last powerful leader of a once powerful hpuse. Worry not, I will show everyone under your employ what caring looks like.”
Cleabert tries to stand but being much older and in worse health, the poison hits him much harder. “You poisoned yourself… to trick me… Amazing. I almost… feel honored. Know I… think highly… of you… in this moment.”
Hilaremont takes the parchments back from him and doesn’t even look at him. “I don’t think of you at all. May your memory die with you.” Taking steps out of the room, he tears a page from a book and crumples it up and places it in an ashtray. “So sad, appears age finally caught up to you.” Taking a candle and placing the flame to the paper, he torches it and returns the candle before exiting.
