Senecio adn Tide II

[Mirach]

"That soon? You work really fast. Is there anything you need that can be get in one trip with the things I need for Janus?"

(Happy New Year to you as well!)

[VisAnastasis]

" Oh, I store a lot of general materials needed for everything in advance, but some specific materials are very rare and I can only get them for Beings. Extra super protective armour in a form of clothes can not come from anything, and I do not make it any day, you know? It needs to be just right, and ingredients fresh, so I get the most important things carefully, making deals when needed, " Being winked at him. " And honestly, it appears that I work fast, but do not be too impressed just yet - it is only so because I technically exist in six dimensions. Time works a little differently for me when I am not constrained by those three, so, naturally, what will be until morning for you, would technically be quite some time for me... You need to bend reality a little when you are making things that bend reality, right? And, not that I want to brag, but in this area, I am quite overpowered, so I can pour a really big speed of life cheat, that's why I will be able to pain all them cute roofs in a day too. " he explained idly. " I'll just bend the reality a teensy weensy bit for you, so do not worry. "

[Mirach]

"Okay than," Svarik smiled. "Bye for now," he took leave of Alpha and went to find the captain of the guards to ask him for help with aquiring the materials from the list."

[VisAnastasis]

Captain of the guard was an unusual person, by all means. By appearance, no one would ever suspect he was a Being, at least, no fellow humans. Svarik, who was a listener, could feel the hidden strength and power of an immortal, despite he looked like just a fellow man of black hair and pale shin, only his naturally deep blue eyes revealing his true nature.
He spoke with him calmly too, much like a human would - not casual, like Alpha, but more dignified and solemn, fit for the authoritative role of Captain. He let Svarik explain what he needed, nodded lightly. Being a person of few words. His eyes only flashed with some interest when Alpha's name was mentioned, and he nodded, taking the paper and asking for the budget and where items should be delivered, without any fuss, just like Being predicted he would.

[Mirach]

Svarik instructed him to deliver the items directly to Janus, and gave him all the money he had with him to prioritize the things at the top of the list. "I didn't take more with me," he explained, "but if Sage would be willing to lend me some, I would like to get everything. I'll return the gold by the first Being that will fly here."

[VisAnastasis]

The man didn't take the offered money though, smiling but lightly for the first time during their conversation.
" You are our valuable guest... If I took your valuable travel money like that, Sage would kill me, Hans would facepalm himself to the moon, and Tide would just be so very disappointed with me, sir, " Being replied to him confidently. " Just say the sum, please, sir, we have a fund for dealing with those specific situations, and later, you can just speak with Sage and decide when and how you should pay him back, " Being advised him. " Just decide the amount you feel is fair for what Janus is making you in return. So rather than giving your money right now, just make sure to pay later, and buy now as much as you can earnestly afford - enough to show your sincerity, but not over yours means, or that could backfire. Some Beings can be quite a proud folk. As a valuable guest here, that is my advice to you. "

[Mirach]

Svarik thought for a while, wondering how much the things from the list could cost. Finally he said a limit close to the price of a new carriage. "I hope that's enough to get everything with a wide enough margin," he said. "But if not, the list is ordered by priority. I'll make sure to return the money as soon as possible."

[VisAnastasis]

Being wrote that down in his notes and nodded.
" It shall be done by tonight. " He proclaimed with simple confidence. " And, if I may... We are not that poor that this would make a difference. If I may say, sir Hans has so far spent more money than this solely on those expensive cakes for Senecio that you can get from that Being restaurants... Not to mention he just bought whole damn theathe for the sake of the kid. Now, that could maybe possibly be amount I would sweat over a bit, but not this. It is perfectly reasonable sum, it is not as if you bid me for enough to buy a mansion, so please, do relax, sir,"  creature smiled a little." Do not let it weight you down. For my Masters, being good hosts is their biggest pride and joy. Just put priority in having a good time if you don't want to sadden them - borrowing some money won't do anything but help them feel less indebted to you, so it is a good thing. "

[Mirach]

"Thank you," Svarik nodded, reaasured with that. "If it's not enough, do inquire about the prices anyway and let me know how much is missing, please. I'll decide what to do based on that."

[VisAnastasis]

" I know all the prices. We are buying those things every time sir Hans makes deal with sir Janus for materials. I would not dare buy too much of one and leave others unbought. I planned to spread out to buy a bit of everything, buying more of what Hans usually buys more of. This is how much of everything you can get for this sum, " he said, and he took out the pen, and wrote amounts next to all items on the list, in kilograms and up to the gram in precision. He did not need time to pause, just writing down one by one, and letting Svarik see the result, his instant calculations freakishly inhuman - but since he knew Svarik knew, he did not seem to try to pretend. It was quite clear, but with excellent and quick memory, why he was a good fit for the job where one needed to keep in mind too many information and deal with many unusual requests.

[Mirach]

"Okay... I must admit I don't know how much is an adequate amount for Janus. Do you think it's enough?" Svarik asked.

[VisAnastasis]

" Such things are often... a dance. A dance of values, " Being said in the end. " I can tell you Hans's values when making such a deal, and you can decide what you want to do. Hans feels... a great deal of respect and protectiveness for Janus, you see. Sir Janus is a little difficult, but good soul, always focused on earning for food while balancing never hurting anyone... So, Hans wants to ease his worries as much as he can by at least making sure he has no too many worries about materials. When they make deals, Janus does always make him something good, but Hans as well makes sure to buy him enough materials to last him at least one year. For Hans, the value of the enchanted item is much bigger than mere raw materials than only Janus knows to make enchanted items out of - like someone would value a delicious pancake more than valuing the large quality of flour they can do nothing with. But even more so, sir Hans values Janus's peace of mind and counts that as gain from the deal, and always tries to get the really good items out of him, so he would be justified in getting Janus as many materials as possible. It is a dance, between the generosity of a Spirit who wants all his subjects taken care of, and a pride of a demon who wants no handouts, only what he earns fairly, " Being replied, adding more gently. " But you are not sir Hans. You are not a person like Hans, who stands above all of us and wants to give us all the best life he can. As you know, he is one of our thee Kings, so it is natural he is like that. You know what you are getting, you know how much subjective value it has to you, and you know that giving over your means to the point where you would give more than you feel is worth it would backfire horribly for Janus. If you can stand before him proudly, put your hands down on the table, and say with full confidence - this is what this deal is worth to me to the cent, then, it is the right amount, no matter how low or high. In Being world, you won't get anywhere without complete certainty in your choices, so whatever you pick, you need to be unwavering in your certainty to a fault. "

[Mirach]

"That's why I hoped to avoid a deal with money," Svarik muttered. "Hans actually makes it, I just take from the treasury. If I give much in one place, it might miss somewhere else..." He thought for a moment. "No, I think it's a fair price... for  this deal, borrowing from Sage. I hope there will be more and for those I'll prepare the finances ahead."

[VisAnastasis]

" If you are that uncomfortable about money, how about going the way around it?" Being asked. " Let Hans's money buy as much as he is willing to, while you make a deal for something else he wants in exchange? Deals are good ways to affirm mutual respect. Hans is not well right now, but I am sure you could wake him shortly for the deal, and that it would be much more positive outcome for both of you. After all, you are in really bad and strained place right now, because you keep doing well by him without giving him much  chance to return good with good," Captain said a touch reproachfully, as if it was something frown upon in Being world. " So if that continues, that could put a stain on your reputation among immortals if it becomes wider known. But if you are absolutely against waking up sir Hans now, while I think it is still better to do it, if you do not want to you can ask Tide to make deal for it in Hans's name. It would not quite the same but it would still tip the scale a little in the good direction.  "

[Mirach]

"Is that acceptable?" Svarik asked. "It was my deal with Janus and I would like to fulfill it the best I can. Is it alright to make a deal with someone else to fulfill it better? And I don’t mean just in general, but would Janus be fine with it?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Yes, it is not different than buying from several material stores. You can imagine it like this - once long ago, humans traded with goods, not money. You had corn but wanted to buy honey. The beekeeper wanted meat, though. So what do you do? You find a butcher that wants corn, exchange it with meat, and then go to beekeeper and get honey for meat. Is effort not even more admirable?" Being asked." As long as there  is effort and everyone gets what they want, it is as respected method as money, you just have to give something of equal value to the person you are making deal with. For example, if beekeeper that doesn't want corn is guilted into taking it for honey, that is only frowned upon - rudeness and disrespect in approach. As long as both sides feel like they are getting plenty of value, with no ripping off on either side, it's equally respected. Money doesn't move the Being world, value does - so while money does have value, it is not only thing that has value, or even universal value. While for you who doesn't feel like they have much it is valuable, but for Beings that don't interact with humans, money is actually worthless. It all depends on what person desires.  "

[Mirach]

"In that case, thank you for the tip," Svarik nodded. "I think involving Hans in it would give more value to every side. Come with me then, you can arrange getting the materials right after we decide on it."

[VisAnastasis]

Captain seemed more agreeable with that choice as he found it wiser, as well as respecting current decisiveness of his position much more than uncertainty from before. He went with him to the room, and Tide opened for them like before. He listened to their explanation and nodded firmly in the end.

" Oh, yes," he agreed quietly." I believe it is best choice. While I myself prefer Hans sleeping, he himself would be disappointed in me if I didn't let him handle it, since he always handles materials for Janus and he is the best with money and accounting from all of us. " He hesitated, as if not sure if he should say it, but in the end he admitted." And honestly.... You did me and Hans as a family unit, with your actions yesterday. Senecio means a lot to us both... It is not like you have more money than you can count so it doesn't matter, but if you rather picked spending all your travel money on humble number of materials, rather than asking us for some money... That would just feel terrible, wouldn't it?" Even Tide seemed a little appaled." I do know you have a timid, golden heart... But if I later found out that while under my roof you spent all your pocket money and then some on something we could have helped with, just a day after indebting us so... I would feel pretty terrible, too. " He nodded lightly, putting hand on Svarik's shoulder, as if telling him something very important." Little Svarik... You have a good heart, but if you did that, you would be looked down upon, not admired. Everyone likes a nice person that offers to help pick fruit from your orchard when your back hurts... But no one feels good around a person that after hard day's work refuses even to take juice or couple apples in return. We survived by counting on one another, Svarik. You can count on us.. no, not just us. If you respect people you must count on them, or you will lose them. "

[Mirach]

"I sometimes have a problem with coming up with suitable favours to ask for," Svarik admitted. "I'm glad for the chance to make up for it."

[VisAnastasis]

" But you do understand when you are kind to people, but don't give them a chance to be kind back to you, that it just makes then feel really awful? Or even worse, when others are in need of your help, but when you are in need, you just try to power through it on your own? " Being replied, with a little softer smile. " When you treat others as if they can offer you no value, they feel like trash... Come here, you trashy little fool. " he spread his arms a little invitingly. " You owe me one huge hug for being self-centred, acting like we are not friends. If you are going to talk with Hans, you are going to need some positive reinforcement before, too, because, just a heads up, if he finds out you wanted to rather make it a debt than ask is, after he basically swallowed all the pride he ever had to ask you for law reform around theatres, after you healed his tail, and after you healed Senecio, and then acted as if it never happened and he is not worthy enough of even asking for money when you need it... " he smiled a little more tiredly. " I think that may be the last straw before, disoriented as he is right now, he might just explode and either strangle you or yell at you to tears. I, of course, won't make you cry, but if you went through with this deal all on your own, *I* would definitelly cry...  "

[Mirach]

"It's a very personal deal to me," Svarik said quietly. "I wasn't sure if it wouldn't lower its worth if I don't fulfill it myself. But I see now it will be even more worthy this way."

[VisAnastasis]

" Dummy, you are still fulfilling it yourself... You are just sharing some of the load, so that instead od personal deal, it does not turn into one of those super stressful things that drive humans to early graves. We would be angry because you are worth much more than coins to us, but you act as if you're not, " he cupped Svarik's head with his hands, and then unexpectedly, patted his hair a little, like a kid he's proud of. " Do not ever sell yourself short. You add value to everything you take part in... Just make sure you give space to others, too, so they can add even more. Don't be an overachiever like sir Falcon, that is his biggest flaw. Even if we were poor, I would give all my own savings up to make you happy, like you made me happy, " Being said gently, inviting Svarik in. " Come here, let us wake Hans... Would you rather speak with him alone? It may be easier for you two to be honest on your own than if I stayed - I do not think you would get along well if you are distracted by me, or use me as a crutch in your conversation. "

[Mirach]

"Just wake him, please, and tell him I have a request," Svarik nodded.

[VisAnastasis]

Being nodded, and while Captain of the guard waited outside, Tide went to Hans. He caressed his brow with worry, and then, he sighed and gave his best to hide it, because worry and pitty were something Hans would only respond badly to. He shook the Being lightly, and it took a moment, but finally aware, Hans flinched and breathed little shallowly first, disoriented and anxious about where he was. But Tide quickly calmed him down, speaking something soothing on Spirit language. Hans seemed faint, still as if it was hard to stay awake in the state of a soul and body he was in, as his soul hurt a lot and he had a high fever and chills right now too, but he had a strong will, forcing himself to stay focused, and he nodded to whatever Tide was saying.
A moment later, Being told Svarik it's fine and that he can come closer.

[Mirach]

"I'm very sorry for waking you," Svarik said quietly, to not wake others. "I need a favour." He explained his deal with Janus quickly, not wanting to tire Hans more.