A Poor Trait ( Elena / Open to One Person )

[Deleted]

Elena really hated portraits.

Why they had to have one for every decade she had no idea, but she couldn't think of a more boring time to spend, several hours just waiting around. Her husband had commissioned two and now her son wanted one of her along with his whole family. Of course, only a small handful of people knew of the one that hung in her widows quarters, she had taken it to prevent many from seeing it though her husband had been extremely pleased with it. She just found it ultimately embarassing, but men were often drawn to those sorts of things. Her kids would have been bug-eyed to see it at all.

And then of course there was the official one from just after her wedding, the first one. That one hung downstairs in the main hall and wasn't nearly so bad as far as they went, but now her son was having two done, one of the whole family and one with her alone and, this was important, he had told her he wanted it to capture her real personality not the official stances and looks. SO she had made him swear on his position he would not peek beforehand and so far he hadn't seen what she had bribed the painter to do.

He might be upset with her (and she thought the painter Mr Tresnak must have a crush on her because she appeared far too young to her eyes compared to what she saw in the mirrors these days and he was far too young himself) when he saw what she had managed. It showed none of the current styles of dress (and there were enough photogravures floating around of her many different appearances for the House for goodness sakes) and showed her as being quite tired of the whole business, but she thought it very accurate of her non-public persona. Still, she was tired of these sessions and looked irritated when she saw movement form the corner of her eye.

Damn that steward! He knew this would make this longer!

The man got right close before he stood there, clearing his throat after a minute until the painter came to a stopping place. Sighing, she looked at him and he came over saying "Madam has a visitor who would like a few minutes word," and he leaned over and whispered in her ear a name. Looking at the calling card he handed her, she frowned slightly. This was the man's studio after all, not her home; how did they know she was here to begin with? "Alright, send them in then and I'll grant a few minutes. I'd rather not sit still much longer anyway." Standing as the painter covered the canvas, she stepped to a nearby window, carefully shuttered to control the light and flung it open, enjoying the fresh air that came in with it.

[Nosuchthing]

Benoit Hilt flicked a speck of imaginary dust from the lapel of his jacket as he waited, he wasn’t waiting long, after a minute or so a grimy face appeared at the window of his carriage. Benoit eyed it with distaste as it split and the dirt lined face grinned a grin of stained teeth. Benoit raised a questioning eyebrow and the face spoke.

“Two, watching the house, one from Urbain, one from Elariel.”

The face grinned again, “they won’t be botherin’ you for a while.”

A slip was handed through the window and the face tipped a hand to its hat before disappearing. Benoit stepped out of the carriage and, knowing that now the house was unwatched by any but his informers. He allowed the door to close behind him and then rapped on the side of the carriage with the end of his cane. Without another glance the driver snapped the reins and the horses trotted on, the carriage had been stopped for less than a minute and by the time those following had caught up it would have re-joined the main thoroughfare. Apparently unhalted in its business.

Madam Elana Helm Urbain was one of the few House heads short of Venture he respected in the city, she had a workmanlike approach to business it was true, but she had cornered and locked down a section of the market so securely even he could not have influenced it. That was a rare feat indeed.

He rapped on the door with the top of the cane, it wasn’t long before a man came to the door, a steward. Benoit smiled charmingly, “good morrow, I have business now with your mistress, if I may?”

He handed over an elaborately embossed card, and then entered behind the man to stand silently in the entry way as he went upstairs to check with his employer. When the man reappeared at the top of the stairs Benoit had already begun to climb them, knowing that Elana would accept his audience. He entered, then turned and looked pointedly at the painter and the steward. The painter left without a word, Lady Urbain’s steward however remained stubbornly by the door. Benoit sighed, “a word with your mistress in private please?”

[Deleted]

She had passed an age where she feared death like many of her peers, instead making sure the past would show who she was more. And being publicly popular also gave her a form of protection which few could miss; she was more popular with the lower classes then most realized at first. People who didn't like the idea of stirring up the common man avoided messing with her it seemed. So when she saw the card she didn't panic, though there were hints that he was more dangerous then his reputation in public, she didn't feel a skip of a heartbeat or anything like that. No, she merely frowned at being isolated in a spot she was force to meet him.

Damn her son for wanting this done now. She'd definitely be mentioning the ends she had to go to for him and the House again, more ammunition for tea time. Picking up her fur jacket she slipped it on to hide the top part of her outfit which was not as fancy on purpose.

When Benoit Hilt stepped inside, she noted he still wore hat and coat, hopefully meaning this would be a short meeting for whatever reason. She had run across him before, of course, in their rounds of the local social scene, but never alone. He seemed to enjoy treating the noble class on a first name basis as if it was all about wealth and power (which it was in some ways, but there were unspoken rules to it which she doubted the young man followed), but there was something missing in his mannerisms which he himself did not seem to be aware of.

Respect in his eyes.

Oh he was polite enough and followed common curtsey, but it was a form she felt with him, as if it was a set of rules he followed to stop rustled feathers. And she was old enough she could see through the exterior of a lot of people, mainly since she didn't dance the same tune everyone else did. Looking to the Steward she gave an almost unperceived nod and the man stepped out of the door into the hallway with the painter, the door partly open. "Mr Hilt, to what do I owe this meeting of unannounced intentions?" seeking to distract him from the door. If he closed it she would simply open it again; the room was large enough for him to talk in without being rude. "I wonder how you found out about this place, if you would be so kind as to explain yourself?"

[Nosuchthing]

Madam Elana Urbain was a formidable woman, and unlike most of the nobility, extremely perceptive. No one truly knew the extent of his influence, or the fact that he ran most of Elendel’s underworld, but Elana, it would not be wise to allow her to learn of it. It was irksome, but for now it served no purpose to remove her, for now she remained, at least potentially, useful.

He moved with a careless, effortless grace as he entered the room, and he watched carefully as the steward took his leave, pulling the door to, but not quite closed. As was the case with every detail, it was carefully noted and analysed. He moved away from the door as he removed his hat and placed it delicately on a side table. He crossed the room to stand beside Elana and gazed out of the window.

Without looking at her, and careful to keep his voice low so that the man outside would be unable to hear, at least as long as he was not a Tineye. “It must be quite wonderful to have such a caring family Elana, for how long has your son had you watched? I understand family concerns but can you really not be trusted with your own safety?”

He raised an amused eyebrow at her curiousity, it was a good question, there were few things that happened in the city that he wasn’t aware of, it paid to know what the wealthy and powerful were doing. Of course, his network of spies and informers wasn’t quite what the nobility would expect, after all, no one looked twice at the beggars in the street, or indeed the men and women serving them.

“Oh I have my ways my dear Elana, it does not pay to be uniformed in our great city.”

He brushed imaginary dust from the window and inspected his finger tip.

“I have a request, a favour to beg if you will.”

[Deleted]

Keeping her face strictly neutral but listening (not closed off) she wondered what could have prompted this meeting. His first comment of course led her to give him a glance; so he had found her inner guard at least. Best to mention the rest then anyway. "Despite being no longer in the Head position of the family," and wasn't she glad he had been able to take that over, "my son believes in the security of all House members. He's not one for taking risks, though I would rather do away with all of them personally."

She frowned, not happy to be on this subject in the first place as she looked out the window. "Spotters, guards, servants, watchers, even people eyeing the watchers, it's a bit ridiculous really, but he believes no one should get near me without being spotted and sounding an alert," she said turning to eye his face and thinking he had hardly realized how many people would be keeping tabs on her, "but I did at least get him to keep them out of my sight."

Being a public figure her life was always in someone's sights and she did consider it a type of prison. In her own section of town though, thank goodness, it was quite a lot less, but here outside the House mainstays, she found it more then cumbersome and unwieldy. "I suppose it's sweet to know my children care so much for my safety they would risk such weapons in the city center, but I find it a nuisance." Unknown to her the alert had gone out a minute ago and the troops were already over on this street approaching the building which was going to do more then annoy her when they barged in, but it couldn't be helped.

Mr Hilt's associates were already more then a little alarmed outside; they were beating a hasty retreat to be ready when their master called them, but not so obvious as to draw fire from gun carrying House troops. "Unfortunately true. Fortunately I can at least leave the politics out now. I am quite happy to leave that period behind." Since this was only her second visit outside her home area this year, there was little to be heard about the difference between her city and her home district security; if he had figured her security to be like at home, he was gravely mistaken. Of course this time she wouldn't be quite as annoyed as before when they smashed into a tea social nine months ago in another part of the city, but she had managed to quiet that one up and burned her son's ears on the terms "Hidden, stealth, and subtlety."

Her eyebrow arched as she looked at him and took a partial step back staying firmly in the view from the window. "A favor? That usually implies a return favor of greater value, Mr Hilt. Are you sure you wish to provide me the opportunity of an open ended favor to be requested when I choose?" Three men in uniform came in through the front while the rest secured the front and back doors carefully, looking both in and outwards, alert for mischief.

[Nosuchthing]

Benoit didn’t flinch as he espied the carriage pulling up by the front door, nor when a dozen house troops poured from it. Truth be told he had expected something like this, but he had not expected the reaction to be quite so swift. Still, it was more information, and knowledge, in Elendel, was power. He filed the information away for later use should he ever need to do something about Madam Elana Urbain. He instead continued with the conversation as though everything that was happening around him was completely normal and totally within his usual purview. There had been rumours of something similar happening some time ago, but nothing concrete, nothing that could be trusted. At least now he had some real evidence as to the extent of her protection. House troops, useful certainly, but no obvious mistings or ferrings, interesting for a house of Urbain’s wealth, though they could always be concealed among the troops.

He frowned however, at Elana’s next words, “ah, that could be… problematic. Leaving politics behind or not, you still have a great deal of influence in the senate, and also upon your son. I wish for you to wield that influence.”

He turned towards her in time to see her step back, away from him, and smiled faintly at the notion that she might be afraid of him, or that her troops might simply open fire. “However, I do not ask on my behalf, and as such, I must ask your… friends to leave, this is not for their ears. I give you my word I mean you no harm, here,” he tossed his cane to a surprised looking soldier, “I stand here unarmed now.”

He waited patiently for the House troops to leave.

[Deleted]

Her eyes sharpened at his comment before she answered, letting the silence grow a moment. "Trust me when I say, Mr Hilt, that asking me to influence my son is a matter no woman will ever think minor no matter what his age and position. The return favor would be rather large because of that. I am not a man to easily trade in my children's livelihoods you understand." No indeed not! There was a reason mother bears were far more feared then father bears and if he hadn't learned that, well then he had a rather painful lesson on the way in life.

The door opened and a man she recognized stepped in, Hilt turning and tossing the man his cane. Rolling her eyes in a small way not at him but her son's men, she turned to them. "Yes, what is it now?" She stepped away from Hilt a moment to meet the guard who whispered in her ear about the missing watcher and she glanced back at Hilt with a raised eyebrow. "Wait in the hall, I'm sure Mr Hilt won't be long, but begin a search for him of course. His wife will be upset and I for one don't want to tell his daughter he's missing. See to it."

That she put the safety of any member of the House as important should be no surprise, but woe be it to Mr hilt's "favor" if the man wasn't found quickly. Alive.

As the man turned and left without giving the cane back (and anyone alert would have noticed the door did not get shut nor did the footsteps go very far) she turned back and said to him "I think you should be more direct with this favor you ask, Mr Hilt. I won't guarantee anything, but I'll listen." After all, her son was in charge, she had to be the one to balance the favors to see what would be the most important and where the advantages lay.

[Nosuchthing]

Benoit raised an amused eyebrow at Elena’s response, but then not having children of his own he would admit that perhaps he had underestimated the depths of her feelings for her children. Though he struggled to understand anyone doing anything for the benefit of others, it seemed such a waste of time and effort if it did not benefit yourself. Nonetheless, he had known that what he asked would come with it’s price, but it was something that was… perhaps… worth it.

He ignored the implied threat behind her words, whether it was intended or not. He turned back to her, carefully noting the slightly open door behind him. He might seem foppish and unaware, but he saw everything, and he never missed a trick, each one was his bread and butter. It was part of the reason he had stayed alive this long, but entirely the reason why no one knew truly how powerful he was.

“Highland Venture is good for this city, for both our fortunes, he keeps things stable, and you and I both know that should he topple it would be bad for business. For both of us, not simply I. My favour… I suppose you could also consider it advice, is for Urbain to lend their support to him now, and if not your son, then at least your personal support. It is in neither of our interests for him to lose power over stalled atium production.”

He smiled and waved languidly with one hand. His face was completely innocent, not one facet of it betraying a hint of his true knowledge of the situation. “It is a pity that your guards chose to interrupt us, perhaps your watcher was inconvenienced by a footpad, it is awfully common in this part of town.”

He smiled, “as you know my wealth is considerable, I have no doubt I am capable of matching whatever favour you should request in return.”

[Deleted]

Any mother cared for her children in a deep way, though not all showed it well and maybe Mr Hilt had not experienced enough personal attention in his early life to have learned that, but it was mere supposition for her to 'guess' on such a subject. She made a mental note to ask for what information they had on him when she got home. Listening to his words, she found herself wondering what he knew. And if his sources indicated there was about to be a problem with production.

Atium production! Yes that would be a considerable issue in the current politics. What was the man's source? "I am sure he has things well under control, but I confess to an interest in the production you seem to question. What is your knowledge on the subject? Have you heard something to cause you concern?" She debated in her mind whether this was a ploy or a real concern; she was not foolish enough to jump to causing a wave in the city of panic after all.

She made another note to ask her son what he knew about the current information.

Without thinking she said "Few footpads waylay people on roofs, Mr Hilt, so I would find that a questionable situation indeed." but she wasn't really paying close attention to such words. No, her mind was evaluating what she read from his face to what he said and finding it didn't really add up as surely as she would like. "Very well, I shall pass word along and depending on the outcome will send word when I need to call in that favor. Is that satisfactory, Mr Hilt?"

[Nosuchthing]

Benoit raised an eyebrow at Elena’s apparent ignorance as to the current problems in Atium production. Either the woman truly did not know, or she was attempting to play some game to discover his own sources. “It is common talk among the senate my dear Elena, many people are unhappy with the rate at which Atium is provided. All I ask is that your son, and perhaps even yourself, should reassure them.”

Hilt didn’t blink as she mentioned her watcher, instead, casually inspecting the imaginary dirt beneath his nails. “Is that so Elena? I must confess little familiarity with footpads, or indeed the sort of people who take to hanging around on roofs, I do hope he is in good health… your man.”

At least it seemed she saw some merit in his request, he smiled and nodded graciously, “yes my dear Elena, that is most satisfactory, after all, if Highland should lose the Protectorship who knows what might befall our economic prospects, let alone the city.”

[Deleted]

Ah so he did see her as an idiot; good to know. Elena frowned at the man parroting a common enough answer and stopped herself from snapping back like she did at her younger children who asked questions they had ought to know better about if they had turned on their brains. Still, she sounded very much like a mother asking a return question to make the other think more about what they had just said. Maybe not very political, but certainly genetics.

"Mr Hilt, I did not ask you what the current situation was, that was what we would call an assumption on your part. I asked you for what special information you received which made you decide speaking with me on this issue was important enough to interrupt my session which is supposed to be a secret. I am quite aware of the rates and the general consensus; I could hardly have acted for my house for so long without being intimately aware of the current situation in politics unless you think me a fool in which case this meeting is over, post-haste."

She sighed and continued, knowing she was fully in it now. "Something, however, has prompted you to reveal several things. One, you knew about this session with a painter. Two, you knew how to approach the house and who was in it. Both of those are secrets and by revealing them you use a pawn on the board. Therefore it's quite clear you have heard something to indicate this is a time which needs special attention and using for resources, not that I like being considered a resource nor being assumed to go along with a quite open request therefore you need to give me more then just the general word on the street or even common gossip to get the result you prefer, correct so far?"

The look she gave him was of a mother thinking she had a naughty boy here to deal with.

"At home my children were raised to know that not only were assumptions dangerous, but tools for others to manipulate with. Hence if they spouted off such an answer to me I'd soon have them knowing a slap on the behind was headed their way if they didn't produce more reasonable and solid information then that for me to react to. Facts, Mr Hilt, that is what i deal with not vague hints and gossip. So. Either produce more detailed information for me or you risk having revealed your pawn to no avail as I will bring this to my son's attention, but as a plot, not as something I think should be followed up on with any real conviction. There, are we on the same page now? "

The footpad stuff was so beneath the conversation she didn't acknowledge the return answer, just remembering it for another time. The rest however got her attention. "Indeed. It would be quite a power play afterward if someone was creating an artificial reason to begin it just because they saw the maximum advantage at that moment for their own goals." She turned her eyes on him directly, showing a steel in her eyes most who encountered her personally found a bit surprising in a woman. "I taught my son to keep all tidbits which could be gathered together no matter how small aside in case of games like that. Right now we have a modicum of peace and I would prefer for the families of this nation that we keep that balance of power if the end result is a happier growth in the lives of the next generation. Hence, I will add this" she made it seem as if a trifle thing till he gave her more information "small worry of yours, a concern if you will for stability to our collection."

She would be a pushover for no one and her grasp of politics was quite sharp.

[Nosuchthing]

This was indeed an interesting conversation, Elena was clearly no fool, and she had deserved her position as the head of her Household. Hilt was grateful that he did not have to face her in the senate, her son was not even half the politician this woman had been, and could be again if she so chose.

“I am a merchant Elena, and there are things we merchants say to each other that do not reach the ears of the Houses, Highland is powerful, that is not doubted, but his recent promises in Atium production have been foiled in the region. Bandit activity can be blamed for some of it, but I have reliable information that there is something more at play. Certain of my… colleagues have a hand in this, unfortunately, short sighted greed is hardly good for business.”

The senate was a vicious place, and power plays were constant, if Highland fell then perhaps even his position would be threatened, and that was something that could not be tolerated. Fortunately it would rock the foundations of political power, House Urbain would be just as much at risk, Highland might be a relic of an earlier time, but the man was no fool, and he maintained the status quo, if that faltered… well, anything could happen.

He didn’t react at her attempted intimidation, and her associating him with her children. It was an interesting technique, and one that would later bear closer scrutiny, he wondered exactly how many she had cowed with just that approach. Truth be told, the threat of her son was little enough Urbain was powerful, but he did not wield as much influence in the Senate as Hilt, none did save Highland, after all, they were all dependent upon him to control and regulate the economy, that position had been hard won, but worth every ounce of effort.

“I cannot move against them in the senate, not alone, and even so an outright accusation would be scoffed at, but it cannot be allowed to continue. I would have you pass this information on to your son, of course I will remember this favour, they are valuable things in this world of wealth and lies.”

[Deleted]

She could see in his eyes he got the message she meant business and more so. While she didn't choose the life of a politician, her arrival at the top of her house had taught her well-learned sudden skills which worked well if you thought of the other heads as squabbling children in a playground. And any mother could straighten them out if she had dealt with enough of her own children, which she had. Political figures and kindergarteners. Elena mentally shook her head at what she was forced to deal with to protect her family. And by the family she thought of everyone in her house, not just those that were her blood, one of the reasons she was so popular.

"Merchants vie for their sales against others so pardon me for being automatically suspicious. Evidence you say?" Greed was indeed bad at any time, but messing with the supply would be the work of a madman indeed, to topple the entire system really. Just as bad to mess with people's fears about something for an advantage however and she was wary of jumping the gun. "Greed had been the cause of many a downfall for certain. People who get greedy do many stupid things, but fortunately my family has learned the casualties of that long before reaching full age." She had seen to that indeed.

She was not entirely convinced this was not a ploy; the man set off her nerves, partly because of the time he had chosen to confront her for a 'talk.' To her it was the method of a man who had much to hide and made her suspicious, but the point he brought up did have consequences either way. She would definitely have to speak to her son about it, but in what way she was not sure yet. Still, best to deal with the current threat up close. "Very well, I will speak with him this evening then. Will that be satisfactory sir? I need to return to my current appointment so I can keep to others."

Hopefully he would take the hint and leave. if not then she would have elevated the danger level of this encounter much more.

[Nosuchthing]

Hilt laughed, and this woman thought that this was merely business. Well, perhaps it was, but it was no simple attempt to gain an advantage over rivals. He was the Head of the Canton of Economics, the most powerful merchant in the nation, let alone the city, should he wish to he could drive most of his competitors out of business. Though she did not know that, and indeed wouldn't, his influence spread far deeper than even she or Highland could possibly discover. Still, it was, in theory, a valid concept. He smiled, "Elena, you do me a disservice, I am here for precisely the reasons I have explained to you, no more, and no less. I do not intend to profit from this exchange, merely to maintain what we have, for if things should destabilise, what profits will I make then?"

He raised an amused eyebrow, "you think I carry it around in my pocket? No I am afraid the evidence will have to wait on another meeting, do nothing if you so wish, but remember my warning when it all comes crashing down around you."

This, at least, was true, witnesses and train cars were not exactly things that could be easily transported, and witnesses were often hesitant about acting as such. It was not evidence he was going to squander needlessly.

"I am a businessman Elena, and in matters of business I am nothing if not transparent, that is my reason for being here, and I give you my word that I have the evidence, however, logic dictates that I cannot risk that evidence on such a meeting as this, I hope that we can meet again, in a more secure area, and there, we can play detective."