I do so miss proper hospitality. There VWWas a time VWWhen a guest understood that being inVVited aboard an Orphaner's VVessel VWWas not merely social obligation, but eleVVation in society. One dressed accordingly, arriVVed on time, and did not VWWhat had not been offered to them. One especially did not ask VWWhat came of the preVVious occupant of their particular position. Most importantly, you do not embarrass the host. I recall inVViting a bronze once. A clerk, if memory serVVes. CleVVer little thing. VVVery good VWWith figures. Better VWWith forged manifests. He had been stealing from an associate of mine for nearly half a sVWWeep. NoVWW, some VWWould haVVe simply had him dragged from his respiteblock in the night. WWhich is a crude method. WWhere is the ceremony? WWhere is the beauty? No, I am a ciVVilized troll. I sent him an inVVitation. Black card, sterling silVVer lettering, my seal impressed into grubVWWax. Dinner at eighth chime. Formal dress requested. He came, of course. He came. He spent the entire first course trembling so terribly that his spoon rattled against the boVWWl. I said nothing. Then, the second, and eVVentually the third course arriVVed. Still, nothing. He eVVentually, after a glass or tVWWo of VWWine, built it up VWWithin him to ask VWWhy he VWWas there. I told him I had heard marVVelous things about his accounting. His face VWWent quite pale. I smiled. He laughed. Not because anything VWWas funny. You knoVWW the sort. That nerVVous little laugh people make VWWhen they are trying desperately to determine VWWhether they are doomed. I let him VWWonder. That is a part of my hospitality. Anticipation sharpens the palate, you knoVWW. By dessert, he had confessed to eVVerything. Missing shipments, falsified ledgers, and a dozen or so name and titles. He eVVen VVolunteered VWWhat I hadn't asked for. Industrious of him. I had no taste for his flesh, hoVWWeVVer. His mud taints the rest of his self. Such an industrious little creature, though. I complimented him. Despite this, he cried. I ordered him not to, it VWWas making my custard less appetizing. Then I offered him a position. You should haVVe seen his face. Relief. Confusion. Gratitude. Still an air of distrust. All at once. I explained that a troll capable of stealing that much from beneath an Indigo’s nose VWWas plainly VWWasted behind a clerk’s desk. I told him I admired initiatiVVe. I could respect his talent. I could reVWWard his competence, something I belieVVe in. EVVery VWWord VWWas true. That is VWWhat you lot do not understand. You think me cruel VWWithout discernment. Quite the opposite. I appreciate quality VWWhereVVer I find it. Sometimes I permit it to surVViVVe. He accepted. WWorked for me for tVWWo sVWWeeps. NeVVer stole so much as a spoon. MarVVelous employee, truly. Just a shame he's terrified of dinner inVVitations. Couldn't imagine VWWhy. #horror #abuse #cVWW-coercion #cVWW-death #cVWW-slaVVery #cVWW-threatening
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