House Longtail - Honoring the Past, Looking to the Future - RPLOG
Participants
Date
3/11/479
Log
It's a chilly morning, and Flora appears to be expecting a guest. Still, she's dressed rather utilitarian, in a long, flowing robe. Certainly more fitting for a noble than the usual leather outfit she wears, but still a long way away from a proper dress. The guards at the door are, of course, going to be escorting the lion up to the large room she's overseeing repairs to.
Hugo Snowmane walks sedately along after the guards sent to escort him through the grounds and manor, his cane tapping gently on the ground. The stately lion has his over long tail draped gracefully over one arm and he looks around with polite, if somewhat detatched, interest. "Highlady," he says, inclining his head to Flora, "It is not often I am called away from breakfast by the leader of a noble house. How may I be of service?"
"As mister Hugo can see... Flora is working on a bit of a project, yes," the she-cat notes, gesturing about a large, empty room. It seems she's restoring an old, upstairs room to its former glory... Currently, there's not much to look at yet, but she must have some plans for the room...
"Flora has spoken with a friend, yes. Flora needs a... Reception-room for parties of sorts, yes... Nothing too big, but not too small either."
Hugo looks at Flora, not moving as his glance moves across the emptied room. "That is very. . . forward thinking of you," he says, "I suppose you are looking to furnish the place? I believe I have some artisans on call that could do the work. They do lovely things in cherrywood and stained oak, unless you prefer something else." The lion assumes that he has been called here for his merchant contacts.
"Flora has ideas. Flora is looking for feedback, yes," the cat notes, as she gestures at a small staging-table in the center of the room. "It is still Flora's home, and LongTech's factory. The furnishing needs to be... Fitting. Both for the House, and for Flora," she notes, as she gestures at two design-sketches on the table. One seems to be a horribly complicated mechanical device, nevertheless beautifully designed. A clock, perhaps. The other seems to be a more general layout of what Flora imagines the room to look like once it's done.
"Flora is thinking of... Making the room a statement of sorts, yes."
Hugo can't help but flinch a little when Flora refers to the old manor house as LongTech's factory. He had not actually seen more than a glimpse or two of the factory floor, but seeing the old ballroom reduced to. . . to THAT had made his skin crawl. He forces down his distaste and inclines his head to Flora. "As you like, Highlady," he says, "But I am a businessman, not an interior decorator. I do not really see why you have requested my presence." The lino tosses his snowy mane a little and watches workers removing debris from old display cases and broken wall paneling.
"Because, Mister Hugo... Flora wants to make the -right- statement," Flora notes, as she gestures at a bare wall. "Flora is hoping to restore the portraits of important members of... The old house, yes. Lady... Lady Alessa, Flora believes she is called? Lady Maria. Flora's grandfather, yes. Denying the past serves no purpose," the cat notes, before gesturing at another wall. "Heirlooms, carefully placed, to show the past is to be remembered, good or bad... But," she notes, as she takes a short pause.
"On the other hand... Flora's House is not the House of Lady Alessa... Just like neither of them is the House of Flora's grandfather."
Hugo is definitely brought up short by that. "You. . . still have the portraits?" he asks, dropping his tail to sway slowly behind him, "I thought they had all been lost, or destroyed after the coup. And what sort of heirlooms? Didn't the crown seize everything that wasn't taken by the fleeing Longtails?" The request for his input on making a statement seems to be momentarily forgotten.
"They are in... Poor condition. But the crown still has some, and it should be possible to reconstruct them... Perhaps not the old ones, due to their state, but something that should honor the old Longtails," she offers, before pausing. "Flora does not have many. But Flora has a good relationship with the King, yes, so a deal might be possible. Some are in the possession of collectors, yes? Such as Mister Hugo himself," she remarks lightly.
"Mister Hugo is not the only one, Flora imagines."
"Ah," Hugo says, frowning a bit and tossing his snowy mane, "You are asking me to hand over my own collection." He shakes his head. "No. It has taken several fortunes and more than a lifetime for my family to gather what it has, and while I must respect this new Longtail house you are trying to create, I find that I prefer the memory of Alessa's House and I will preserve that memory, Highlady."
"Flora has no intention of taking what is not Flora's to take, no," the cat notes, shrugging lightly. "Flora has no issues with the old House. If Flora did, why would Flora restore, or recreate, the paintings of the old House? Flora is, however, saying that the House, as it was, serves no purpose in Sweetwater, today. A memory. Important, but in the past. The Spyguard is under the supervision of House Solacious, and Flora has no intention of running it. It would not help Sweetwater, it wouldn't help Promise."
"But Flora -can- help Sweetwater and Promise through technology. By aspiring to the Creators' example."
"Still... The past is important. Should be preserved. Both the good, and the bad."
"And if helping Promise means Flora has to learn how to be a Noble, so be it, yes. Flora would assume Lady Alessa didn't do things right from day one, either."
Hugo considers Flora, leaning on his cane. "No," he says, thoughtfully, "I suppose she did not." He turns and looks around the room. "I -may- have portraits of Alessa and of your grandfather, Reginald, in my collection," he confesses, "I suppose I could arrange to have fascimiles made for you and your House. If it is to preserve their memory." He looks at the ongoing construction and sniffs. "What is it you mean, when you say that you will learn to be noble?" he asks, "Just what do you think nobility means?"
"As far as Flora is concerned... Nobility isn't about titles or ranks, no. Not about power or receiving respect. As far as Flora is concerned, nobility is something... Different. A way of acting for something other than oneself. An intention, to help the world, and perseverance to do it. If it requires Flora to act in a way that Nobles do, Flora will have to learn how to do that," she notes, although her tone of voice makes it clear that nobles and nobility are two different things, to her.
"Power means nothing. Prestige means nothing. Money, it all means nothing. What matters is how a being treats the hand they're dealt. Flora has met noble commoners, and ignoble nobles. It doesn't matter what title someone has. Respect is earned, not given, yes, and every being is their own person."
"That is rather more of a speech than I anticipated," Hugo says, "But well said. Alessa expressed similar thoughts, as did Reginald, though both left few writings of their own. I suppose it just comes down to what you choose to do about it." He waves a well manicured hand. "Now," he says, "I have little interest in your technology or your grand schemes for the future. I am, however, interested in your plans for this old house. Especially if you plan to restore some of it for more. . . elegant purposes than your factory floor."
"Eventually, Flora hopes to move the factory to its own building. Flora is... Rather fond of the library, though, as are the employees, yes," the cat notes. "However, with funds as they are, it is simply not a good idea to buy more, restore more than one or two rooms at a time."
"Flora's plans for the manor... Flora isn't sure yet. As Mister Hugo knows, Flora is more... Practical than most. But that doesn't mean the house should deteriorate, no. Not practical, either."
"Flora does hope to restore the house, but... Flora's vision isn't the old House, nor is it the old mansion, no. However. Flora would appreciate it if Mister Hugo could humor Flora. What would Mister Hugo do in Flora's place?"
Hugo raises an eyebrow. "Me?" he asks, "I would rebuild the manor house and welcome the world inside. I don't mean to offend, Highlady, but your methods of rebuilding your house are like a nautilus shrinking into its shell. You have turned too far inward." The lion swaggers back to the door he entered through and waves back at the halls he walked through to get here. "You have used none of the resources of this once powerful house, choosing instead to ignore them in favor of relying on your own little inventions. Ink pens and cameras will not save your House, Lady."
"And how does that serve the House? How does that generate income to keep the house afloat?" the Lady asks, a brow raised, a shake of her head. "The house was in shambles when Flora got here, yes," she notes, flagging one of the beings, sending him off to fetch some pictures.
"What resources? The military equipment seized by the crown? The other, smaller land-houses that are still in shambles? Social contacts that are either working with the less than legal Longtails, are scared of them, or have lost all interest in the House completely? Tell Flora, then. Which resources is Flora missing?"
"Yes," Hugo says, "The land, the contacts, the other Longtails, all of it. As I said, my lady, if you had proven to be the Highlady that the scattered members of House Longtail was waiting for, then they might have come back to you. But you are not welcoming, Highlady." He indicates the guards still standing by the doors. "I had an armed escort coming here to make sure that I did not LOOK into the library or at your precious work room in the old dining hall, or stray to see the grand ballroom."
"This -was- the ballroom," the cat notes, shaking her head lightly. And, as Mister Hugo may remember, there have been attacks on LongTech Industries, as well as on Flora and Flora's closest allies. Flora cannot -afford- to open the doors to the manor to every Longtail, because it'd mean that, one, the house would bankrupt itself sooner, rather than later, and two, Flora would be dead," the cat notes, sighing, and setting herself down besides the table.
"And does Mister Hugo really think most of the other Longtails would give up what power they may've obtained through force? Because... What's the saying... Flora has a bridge to sell, then?"
"Yes," Hugo says, "I can see that. I am not saying that you should be unsafe, Highlady. Only that you could afford to open your doors a bit more and let the world in. Besides, you are the Longtail here, not me. It is none of my business how you choose to run your affairs. As a merchant, I only advise that there is no gain to be had where there is no risk."
"Flora is taking risks. Just not the kinds Mister Hugo is thinking about. Mister Hugo will see, yes. In a couple of months. And Flora intends to host a party in the manor to... Christen the room, yes," she notes, as the servant from before returns with the photos. "Flora would appreciate seeing the paintings Mister Hugo has, if possible. Perhaps take a few photos, as well. Get some proper references, yes."
"Very well," Hugo says, "I would be happy to provide an opportunity for you to see the paintings, and I suppose photographs are not out of the question." The lion shakes out his mane again and gently drapes his tail over his arm. "You asked my opinion, and I will give it," he says, "I think that it is a shame to see a noble house become a business instead of a family." He replaces his hat atop his head and leans on his cane. "Now, if there is nothing else, I will take my leave, Highlady."
"Flora has no intention of turning the family into a business. However, the business is currently the thing keeping the house alive. Flora would prefer if it weren't necessary. Flora would prefer... Something akin to House Blackback. But the house simply cannot support itself that way, currently," the cat notes, shaking her head lightly. "LongTech Industries is capable of supporting itself, and the house, for the time being, and that was the goal, yes."
"Of course, Highlady," Hugo says, inclining his head, "As I said, it has nothing to do with me. I wish you luck, Lady Flora." He turns to the guards and waits for them to lead him to the front door.
