To Mardok's

[Deleted]

Ventus watched his boss pick up his creation and wrap it around his waist. Oh! He’d never actually seen anyone make a belt. Ventus wondered if he’d ever be able to do that. Probably not.
The man seemed to have many good ideas. Ventus had never been so imaginative in his life. At least, not in a productive way. He often admired others’ ability to envision realities that were otherwise fantasy for him, but knew not how to come up with such ideas on his own. He supposed his clothes came from somewhere. A tailor. But had never wondered what that took. Same for the sword at his side. He knew someone had crafted it, but never guessed what it took to make nor how long. Ventus was always striving for action. Having a job of following a real thinker would definitely be new for him. He needed the patience but definitely looked forward to gaining a better understanding of how to improve the world around him.

His boss’ insight into trial and error made Ventus smile. He agreed with that. What surprised him was when the man finally gave his name. And not just his simple name, but also his title as well. Ventus hadn’t heard the duke was also keeper of the Artificery. This knowledge conflicted him. A man of high standing, probably well off – Ventus had prejudice towards those sorts of people. He didn’t trust whether their deeds were for self-gain or overall. Though, he hadn’t learned the man’s title soon enough to let such judgments cloud his interpretation of Tyr. Thus far, the man seemed kind, hard working, and honest. He didn’t strike Ventus as a snob nor an aristocratic thinker. Rather, the boy just saw Tyr as a man – determined as he was and dedicated to his duty. Ventus admired that. He would let the matter of Tyr being a Duke settle as a rare value – this world needed more dukes like Tyr. He wouldn’t just drop his guard, but he’d be mindful of treating Tyr just as he had all prior to this newfound knowledge.

“Well, it is a honor to make your acquaintance, Tyr.” Ventus didn’t like honorifics. Not even for a king. He hoped Tyr wouldn’t be offended – rather he was relying on the man not being like the other nobles who tied themselves to their standings.

“What would you have me do working here? Just cleaning and using the bellow?” He hoped there was more exciting things to be done, but would accept anything for the sake of having a job.

---

Ventus El'lor
S: 12
Vit: 14
Agi: 13
Ch: 10
St: 10
T: 10
D: 11
P: 11
En: 11
K: 11

Hp: 240
Sm: 30/ 34
Mp: 231

[Tyr]

"Well that depends Ventus. I have need of help in many areas, what is it you are looking to do? I could definitely use someone to clean my shop and man the bellow, but there are many who can do such simple tasks. Not many who can properly do it on their first try with little instruction though." Tyr was a big proponent in learning how to learn, teaching yourself to do whatever it was you put your mind to, but it was rarely quick. Ventus here was sharp, and he could use that.

"So I'll ask you instead. What are you willing to do if I were to offer you employment? Would you serve? Work? Learn? Fight? Die?" Honestly if someone said they were willing to die for him immediately Tyr would probably shoo them out the door. Just randomly offering your life to someone to get a job was a bit odd. And possibly a bit unstable. But the rest of it, that was somewhat necessary. What Tyr wanted was a Ritgr, and that wouldn't be an easy role to play.

[Deleted]

It wasn’t that Ventus was against starting out with the most mundane of tasks, but he was glad to hear Tyr say that he had options. Though, Ventus wasn’t sure if he should be the one to provide those. It felt too good to be true – giving him reign over his own job.

Ventus thought about what Tyr proposed. Serving? Hell no. That was the exact line of duty he’d escaped from in Fordeth. Ever since Élise had joined the Sovereign, she’d been bugging him to do the same, to serve an unseen – probably nonexistent – king. It was foolish, but she said it was “safer” that way. And he was in no way prepared to make such a commitment to a man he’d only just met. Work? Of course. That’s what he’d come here for. Learn? He’d already done some of that today and welcomed much more if Tyr was willing to teach. Fight? Oh yeah. He liked that. Fighting for a living. But wait… What would the reasoning for the fighting be? Testing out new weapons or for some darker purpose that Ventus would surely find fault in. Die? Um. No.

Ventus looked at the other man, wondering if he were serious. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned to the side, putting much of his weight on one leg.

“Well, I expect to work and learn… If fighting is involved, I can do it so long as I know it is for a good reason,” His eyes landed on the blade sheathed in his belt. It was a pathetic weapon that he’d desire to upgrade if Tyr was serious about the notion for battle, “However,” He met Tyr’s eyes and cleared his throat. He hoped this wouldn’t lose him a job, “I can’t serve a man I’ve only just met… And I don’t plan on dying any time soon.” He was young and his head idealistic, he currently believed himself above death until he was gray and old.

Ventus El'lor
S: 12 Vit: 14 Agi: 13 Ch: 10
St: 10 T: 10 D: 11 P: 11 En: 11 K: 11
Hp: 240 Sm: 30/ 34 Mp: 231

[Tyr]

Tyr smiled at Ventus' answers and clapped his hands.

"Right then, good answers. I can definitely work with that. Right now I can offer you a few tasks that would be highly beneficial to me, though they may not be the most interesting. The same caution goes both ways, can't have you doing the highly critical things without knowing you some." Respect had to be earned on both sides for the whole thing to work, Tyr wasn't going to offer Ventus the chance to be a Ritgr without knowing his work ethic and level of dedication, and Ventus wasn't likely to accept it without knowing how Tyr treated the people that worked for him.

"In no particular order I need someone to purchase horses for the Duchy, a survey done of the road conditions in the surrounding area, and a census of the people taken to make sure each house has enough food to last the next month." The horses would be the most fantastic help really, having a method of quick transportation helped immensely, and if he built a cart he could go retrieve supplies on his own. Or make a day trip to the woods and just cart it all back. Oh, that would be splendid...

"Each one comes with benefits. Choose and we can talk terms."