[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/977024921899249736/1015843306787319888/unknown.png[/img][/center] [hr] [center][img]https://imgur.com/S17UCH4.png[/img][/center] [hr] [center][b]Location: Ingrid's Quarters[/b][/center] [hr] Zarra knocks on Ingrid's door, entirely nonchalant on the outside but inside sweating bullets. He pulls his shirt to release some steam forming inside. Ingrid’s guard Eirirk opened the door. Eirik was a large armored man that stood just under Ingrid’s own height. There was no smile, just eyes that stared at the small blonde boy. He let out a grunt once he realized who he was and then led him to the study where he could see Ingrid and her secretary Åsa. Ingrid looked up to him, [color=8882be]“Ah, Zarra. Are you here to sign the contract?”[/color] Ingrid gestured to a seat for him to take across her desk. Zarra had this convoluted lie in his head that his brother had joded him into pranking Ingrid, but the moment they made eye contact, the stressed Perrenchian's composure shattered. He decides to say what he means rather than string her along and act like she isn't wise enough to know otherwise. [color=6633cc]"Listen, Ingrid, it rather just dawned on me that maybe giving away the wand isn't the brightest idea. I got way too excited and gravely misjudged how irreplaceable it is. I want to still work with you, and I would rather say something now then burn more of your time finding out I backed out. If your answer is no, I can take comfort knowing I was entirely forthright."[/color] Zarra can't help but feel a little sick but he assumes that it's stress over honesty being genuinely uncomfortable to him. Ingrid listened fully but she was still very disappointed. Ingrid didn’t waste time, [color=8882be]“Zarra, I thank you for showing up and being mature enough to own up to your own mistake. You are right that the wand you hold is irreplaceable. Something that you would hear about in legends. It even had a small dragon pearl on the end, there aren’t many of those in the entire world. However,”[/color] Ingrid rubbed her brow before looking back at him to continue, [color=8882be]“you wasted my time. I had other things I could’ve been doing than writing up a contract in 3 languages to make sure this was completely legal and fair.”[/color] Ingrid set to the side a few papers and her secretary handed her other copies of the contracts. Ingrid stare was intense this time around, almost a glare, [color=8882be]“So Zarra, how are you going to compensate me for my time of not only my night but what you want for me helping you research?”[/color] Zarra feels atleast seven levels of relief pass over him as she explain the full situation in detail, but that feeling is short lived as she is quite serious about him wasting her time, he never seemed to grasp until now how seriously she takes it, but then again, it should've been obvious when you have to host a speed dating tournament. [color=6633cc]"I think the better question is what do you want, Ingrid? Outside of the wand of course. I am a Greyborn, after all. You don't meet many of those, if at all. Surely there's something you need that only I can do."[/color] He says this with an inquisitive finger on his mouth. He rarely ever looks her direction as he does so, rather awkwardly ogling her guardsman or the stuff around her room. Ingrid held some maliciousness toward Zarra, he wasted her time and frankly she wants to waste his. But she is better than that. Or worse. [color=8882be]“How about I write another contract. 2 even. Both are contracts of favors. Essentially you will owe me 2 favors of my choice at any time at a later date. There is nothing you possess yet that interest me. And then I will help you and even search for information on my own. Or do you have something worth giving that I do not know about?”[/color] What Ingrid was thinking was hidden under her glare. [color=6633cc]“Sure, that’s not a bad deal at all. I wish I did, but I didn’t bring much of value with me when I came to the school so I don’t have to spend time going through every dorm looking for it again in the off-chance it gets stolen. I’ll definitely keep the wand under lock and key. An offhand idea I had is the possibility of our business working together. You run a mine, correct? Well, my family runs a transport business, they do things like rickshaws and hot air balloons. But they want to start getting into the big stuff, you know, cargo ships. I doubt it’s a good idea but if you had the materials, we could definitely find the means to build said ships and become your main means of trade into Perrench.”[/color] Zarra has very little idea of how to run his family business, as neither him or his brother are the heirs, due to conflict of interests regarding their agendas and the health of the business. But if it puts Ingrid on good terms with him and ultimately helps him financially he isn’t afraid to catch up with his parents on that topic. Ingrid was aware his family made ships but wasn’t aware they were preparing to undertake the construction of a Galleon. She kept cool though as she simply asked, [color=8882be]“I knew your family dealt in transportation but I was only aware they dealt with smaller ships. How much would their first Galleon be Zarra? And do you have the weight of your family to sign a contract for something like this?”[/color] If he actually had the weight to do it she would be surprised. That is an order that temporarily puts shipwrights into debt. [color=6633cc]“I sadly don’t, you would have to talk to my parents about that, I’ll let you use my messenger pigeon to talk back and forth, assuming they don’t decide to take it seriously enough to come in person, which is a real possibility when you literally do transport as your source of income. I am aware they’ve been wanting to make a Galleon for a very long time, couple years atleast, I wouldn’t even think to bring it up if it they didn’t make it blatantly obvious”[/color] Zarra has seemed to chilled out a little more and is much less nervous than he was moments ago, he could be good at this whole negotiation thing if he weren’t a rebellious teen who naturally disobeys any idea of destiny his elders presented to him. Ingrid thought there was potential in meeting with his parents. Not only would it bolster The Eskandish Perrench trade relationship, it would also give us a family that would be an easy stop on her family’s charter. Someone who would buy the wood of Eskand and the metal they make. And in time of oncoming war Ingrid could get them when they would be high in demand yet no one has thought of his family yet. Ingrid gave a warm smile, [color=8882be]“Zarra, I guess this wasn’t a waste of time for me. I been looking to purchase a Galleon recently. So I believe this could be a great venture for us. I can make certain calls for my family and act as a broker for a trade deal between our two families.”[/color] Ingrid gave a nod to her secretary to start grabbing her more contract paper while also pulling on her dress slightly to get her attention as she was still irritated that she had to help write up the original contract. [color=8882be]“Let’s get started on the contract for the 2 favors shall we?”[/color] [color=6633cc]“So I don’t mind if you ask me to do anything dangerous, but I can’t risk being expelled, so if it will obviously come back on me and land me a free ticket off Ersand, I won’t do it, mkay?”[/color] [color=8882be]“And how long are these favor’s valid?”[/color] Zarra has to scratch his hair as he thinks. [color=6633cc]"I assume till graduation, but if we happen to know each other outside of Ersand, would you want them to apply thern? Cause then the expulsion clause won’t apply, and you’re basically free to decide my fate. I’m fine with the latter, as that’s kind of a future me problem. Sound reasonable at all?”[/color] [color=8882be]“Zarra we will know each other after our study, I am going to be working with your family to build ships.”[/color] Out of all possible reactions, Zarra just shrugs. [color=6633cc]“I’m excited to find out what shenanigans I land in about 4 years.”[/color] [color=8882be]“Well we will say the favors last as long as I know you. And I won’t ask you do something that will get you expelled. Nor will I ask for the wand. But what you do if it is a favor that you do not feel right doing but doesn’t risk you getting expelled?”[/color] [color=6633cc]“It’s gotta be something pretty blatantly obviously against the rules like trying to kill the faculty or enter student barred areas. If it involves another student, they can’t know I’m directly involved.”[/color] [color=8882be]“I meant morally Zarra. There are many things that one can do that doesn’t break laws but can be morally wrong. What if I ask you to marry my cousin? Or anything.”[/color] [color=6633cc]“I feel like something like that would be a mistake for the participant more than me, my dad would likely die of happiness if I suddenly married a family of your caliber. But could that person stand me long enough to keep the contract in faith?”[/color] It didn’t seem like Zarra wasn’t understanding what Ingrid wasn’t understanding what Ingrid could do. But he was an adult. He can make this decession. [color=8882be]“Alright, I understand your disposition. What happens if you fail in the favor? Like I ask for a coffee and you bring me milk? What then?”[/color] Zarra giggles a little, not taking the example seriously despite understanding its angle. [color=6633cc]“Well, then I’m a dumbass, and the favor would be moot. I either attempt it again, or if it’s a try or die, find something else for me to do. No malicious compliance or passive-aggressiveness.” [/color] Somehow Ingrid thinks that this noble child is somehow less than the blind commoner. Whatever. [color=8882be]“I think this is amendable. Please sign here and here.”[/color] Zarra signs both the lines, his handwriting a visible and very legible print, a surprise from a noble who would often be pressured into learning cartography. In the spirit of the agreement, Zarra sticks his hand out to shake. Ingrid signs her lines as well and goes to shake his hand, [color=8882be]“Shame I couldn’t get the wand. But this is okay as well.”[/color] Ingrid put the papers away and signals to Eirik to see Zarra out. [color=8882be]“Goodbye Zarra.”[/color] [color=6633cc]“Later.”[/color] Zarra leaves with Erik without issue, he goes to bed with a clear conscience, one-hundred percent not grasping the level of commitment he signed himself up to.