Who: Audrey Leradine & Genevieve Albrecht What: Discussing a place to stay Where: The Snug Duck When: September 1st, noon. Rating: G Status: Complete
It had been difficult setting up a date with the matron of the Snuggly Duckling. With everything that had been going on-- things had simply been postponed. Audrey didn’t mind altogether. After all, the fate of Emillion was far more important than her trivial matters. Finding a matching time in their schedules, Audrey had made her way to the tavern. It was midday and she knew the tavern wouldn’t be busy with customers. Pushing the door open, she stepped in looking around.
“Vivi?” her voice squeaked out, as she looked the fairly empty tavern.
Perhaps the most rewarding part of owning the Duckling was that the time between lunch and dinner was generally quiet, with the floor practically emptied of clientele. It made it quite easy to do other business or take a nap, if she chose. Her plans for the time between business had been to do a quick inventory of new scrolls, but Audrey’s impromptu arrival derailed such thoughts.
“Good afternoon,” she called out, standing from her seat behind the bar. “I did not expect you.”
“I had free time today,” Audrey was quick to reply, her eyes made contact with Vivi and she smiled. Walking over to the bar she hopped onto one of barstools. She swiveled on it for a moment before getting back to what she had in mind of asking. “I,” this wasn’t like her. Audrey didn’t stutter, she always said what was on her mind. Still it felt so difficult asking Vivi for one more favor after having been such a bother to her with her now upcoming debut.
“I was wondering if you had any job positions open. I want to take custody of my little sister but I need to be able to afford an apartment so I wanted to pick up some part time jobs.”
Ah. She had given little thought to how Audrey would manage to keep afloat upon re-entering high society. It was not as though she could continue to live at the Sapphire, and what work she did for the Guild was not always the most savory. Nor was it constant. And though Genevieve desired to help, there was little she could hire Audrey for that would be enough to keep a decent roof over her head.
Unless…
Genevieve poured herself a glass of water and indicated to the bar, silently informing Audrey that she was welcome to whatever she could see. “There are a few retrieval jobs that I have been sitting on, and as the weather turns, I will be in need of more waitstaff.” She took a sip of her drink. “However, a multitude of odd jobs is unbecoming a lady of status.”
Audrey caught sight of the pitcher of water, reaching for it and serving herself a tall glass. Taking a sip, she listened to Genevieve’s offer, nodding along as she spoke. “Retrieval jobs I can do. I can also be waitstaff. It can’t be too difficult. L,” she choked. It was obvious the girl was still not over the Conti murders. “Leila,” she finally swallowed through it, “taught me how to deal with customers. I’m quite charming! If you’ll have me, I’d be delighted!”
It was her last comment that was finally able to crack a frown on her lips. “Is it?” she asked. Of course it was, how stupid could she be. “I… I don’t know what to do. My father kept us afloat with his business, but it’s long and gone now. And unless I found a man to marry right away, I wouldn’t be able to support my sister and I. I,” she paused, “I don’t want to bring her down.”
“You are more than welcome to help out here, and as many of the jobs I hand to you require discretion, it should be little problem.” It still wouldn’t pay much, of course, but it would at least be steady. As for the rest… “There is one last thing I can potentially offer to you,” she started slowly.
It would take some digging on Genevieve’s part, potentially some forged documents. Fortunately, it was not entirely implausible that the Albrechts - or, for that matter, her late husband’s family, of which she was still a part despite reverting to her family’s name - were related in some manner to the Coulombes. It was something she had given some passing thought to upon learning of Juliette’s situation, but Genevieve’s position had been enough to keep the Demiel’s in hand, more or less. And upheaval in Juliette’s life was not something that Genevieve was keen to be the cause of.
Things, however, had changed.
“If someone were to take guardianship of you, it would provide you a place to stay as well as a stipend,” Genevieve told her. “As Juliette’s closest relative, it will not be difficult for you to obtain custody of her, and as such, whoever takes you in will be obligated to take her, as well.”
“Guardianship? You mean like a ward?” Audrey looked up from her glass to Vivi, confusion in her eyes. “And a stipend? So if this person takes me under his or her wing, I would work for them directly and in that way pay my ‘rent’, so to speak?” Most of all, it worried her to bring any of her friends down if she made mistakes. Granted, she was certain she could do well in this reintroduction to her former life, but she still couldn’t put out that anxious feeling swelling in her gut.
“But who would take me? I’m worth nothing, really. The Demiels only want my little sister married for the inheritance and getting a portion of it. It would be no different with whoever takes me in or whoever wishes to marry me.”
Genevieve smiled. “Not quite,” she explained. “Oftentimes it is not expected for the person who has been taken in to work for their guardian. The Demiels, for example, do not have Juliette work for the reasons you have mentioned, and it is quite oft that way amongst guardianship.” She paused, taking another sip of water. “As for who, it is usually a relative who would do such.”
She finished off her glass of water. “I do believe that we are seventh, perhaps eighth cousins?”
Audrey’s eyebrows knitted down in confusion. “Wait, we are?” she asked, knowing nothing of her family tree. Her parents were never quite talkative of their brothers or sisters, so she never had a clue of family outside of her direct brothers and sister. “How did you know? How long have you known?”
There was another pause. “Still, it seems unfair.” Audrey shifted in her seat, her elbow now resting on the countertop with her cheek resting on the palm of her hand. “I should at least pay for my stay. That is the least I could do. I just don’t want to be a burden on anyone anymore.”
“It is a technicality,” Genevieve replied, shaking her head. “If one were diligent and went back far enough, one would find that all of the nobility is related to one another somehow.” She waved her hands, as though waving the topic off. “It will take some research, but it is not unfeasible.”
Refilling her water glass, Genevieve contemplated Audrey’s offer. “It would be unnecessary,” she said finally. “Were I in need of the money, perhaps it would be tempting, but it will be enough that you take on odd jobs for me and help around the tavern. You may save the stipend as you see fit to procure your own residence, but you are welcome to stay in my guest house for as long as is needed.”
It was as if though Audrey’s eyes had lit up as she looked up at the older woman from the palm of her hand. “You’re saying, you’re willing to take me in as a ward?” It wasn’t that she wasn’t understanding where the conversation was going-- it was that she was raised to learn that if it didn’t come directly out of the person’s mouth, word for word it didn’t matter. There would be no verbal agreement on assumptions.
“I am offering to take you and Juliette in, yes,” she agreed. “It is not an indefinite arrangement, however. I will not toss you to the streets, but nor will I allow your whims to be catered to. I will expect that you work towards supporting yourself.” There was no doubt that Audrey would do just that, but Genevieve felt it best to be said.
“I will have the documentation drafted so that things will proceed smoothly once you return,” she continued. “As you are of age, it will not be a standard guardianship, perhaps more a patronage, but that is nothing for you to concern yourself over.” She would need to get in contact with Ofelia; if there was anyone in the city who knew what steps would need to be taken, and whom she would need to bribe, it would be Ofelia.
“Now, have you any other concerns or questions?”
Shock washed over her and she merely stared at the other woman with her lips parted. Finally coming back to her sense she slowly shook her head. “No.” Audrey had walked in asking a part time job and she came out with a patronage and home for her sister and herself. Of course, she would still work hard. The blonde couldn’t even fathom letting Vivi down, especially after all she had done for her up until now.
“I just have gratitude. I don’t know how I could ever repay you for this. If you need anything. Please ask it of me.”
“It is no trouble, Audrey,” Genevieve assured her. There would be little need to repay her, though it would be quite convenient to simply ask Audrey to take on a job without needing to resort to the network. She tried to keep business that way minimal; she knew that the intranet was nowhere near safe, and it was easy to hack if one knew what they were doing.
Genevieve did not, but she knew that there were members amongst Reinholdt’s guild that did.
“Do keep me apprised of your progress, as well as any tentative dates for returning to society. It would be quite beneficial to have the paperwork finalized before then.” It would also give her a bit of time to begin feeling out the Demiels. They would be losing their golden ticket, as it were.
“I’ve been talking about it to Ari. She brought it up again recently. I have a job with Miles to complete on the dates of Virgo 15-17. So after that would be good. I still have to secure a white mage. I have someone in mind, but I have yet to speak to him. I wish to return to nobility before the Harvest Festival.” Audrey took her glass of water and finished it off before continuing. “I will keep you informed when I find the perfect dates. Right now I just have a tentative schedule. I apologize. I’m waiting for my stars to align, rushing in could be a little damaging. It has to be perfect.”
Hearing the door open behind her, Audrey swiveled on the chair to get a look. Customers. Turning, she smiled at Vivi. “Hey,” there was nothing but earnestness in her eyes. “Thanks.” Replacing it with a playful grin, she motioned toward them. “I’ll leave you be now. I’ll message you soon!”
Some time yet, then. That was fortunate; it gave her some leeway to speak with people, figure out the best path to take. “Tentative dates are quite useful,” she assured Audrey. “I simply need to know by when I should have paperwork taken care of.” The week before the harvest festival would be best, she decided. That provided her with ample time to have research completed and forgeries completed, if necessary.
Opportunity to speak was short, however, and the beginning of the dinner rush began to trickle in. Audrey’s sincerity was touching, but Genevieve waved it off; there was no need to thank her, at least, until such a time as things were in motion and progressing smoothly. “There is little to thank me for,” Genevieve said quietly as Audrey stood. “Do keep in touch.”
She watched as Audrey disappeared through the doors and onto the street. There was work to do, but first, the tavern would need to be seen to. “Good evening, gentlemen,” Genevieve greeted, smile in place. “Welcome to The Snuggly Duckling.”