∗ ∗ ∗
“Don’t freak out the employees, Noah,” Fresco told me bluntly as soon as I entered the guild leader’s office.
I dropped my shoulders and tried to argue back. “Hold on, I wasn’t at fault there. I believe the guild leader should have been responsible for making the proper arrangements in this scenario.”
“Like the nobility would, eh? That’s not my style, so quit talking like a snob. Maybe you’re used to running your mouth like that, but it feels like you’re putting up a wall. I don’t like it.”
I was a little startled at his sudden remark. “You dislike my manner of speech?”
“Case in point.”
“Oh...my formal register? But this only seems appropriate, as I’m essentially your subordinate.”
This was just how things were done at the royal palace, at the Duke’s residence, and at school. When I thought about it, it was standard in every community I’d belonged to.
Fresco surmised as much. “Maybe if we were in high society as part of the royal court or as government officials, sure. But where do you think we are now?”
“The adventurer’s guild, of course.”
“Yeah! And adventurers are...”
I sarcastically finished his sentence for him. “Vulgar ruffians and crooks, so they’d never use inordinately polite speech?”
Fresco snorted. “Hey, that’s a bit much. We know how to show some decorum when we want to. And we obey the law too...usually.”
“In other words, there are times when you break the law?”
Well, nobody could stick to the law all the time. There were situations where it was difficult to follow.
Fresco addressed this. “You gotta adapt to the situation, y’know? Sometimes you just can’t be assed.”
“For example?” I asked.
“Lemme think... When there’s a tidal wave or flood. Those are the big ones.”
“Understandable...but those are extraordinary cases. Very few people follow the law in those instances. There are looters, and some even take advantage of the circumstances to commit murder.” I’d never actually witnessed this myself, but I’d studied history and heard from people who’d seen it firsthand. Fresco might have even seen these things happen himself.
An old and weary expression formed on his face. “Is it that exceptional? You sure that’s not just human nature?” he said despondently.
He must have remembered something unpleasant, I thought. I tried to change the mood with a little wisecrack. “The guild leader of this town certainly likes to discuss philosophy.”
“Sorry, didn’t mean to get into that. But anyway, that’s just how it is. You can speak more casually to me. That’s not major enough to change your nature, right?”
“I’m not too sure about that... There are instances where showing decorum can improve a relationship. Humans are just ignorant animals straightened out through their upbringing.”
It was a common argument, but it was still true. Education gave people moral integrity. Or perhaps it was the other way around: people wouldn’t know the difference between right and wrong without education. That ignorance might be bliss in its own way, but it would make us no different than animals.
Regardless, Fresco seemed cultured as well. He shot back, “And then there are guys like you, who shoulda had the animal straightened outta them but went and got wild again.”
Apparently I’d just brought more trouble on myself. I shook my head. “Let’s not talk about this any longer.”
Fresco nodded with a triumphant expression. “Fine by me. So, what’s your answer?”
“All right, Fresco. But really, you should prep better. Otherwise, people might ask where I get off, talking to the guild leader so pretentiously.”
After that whole conversation, I couldn’t exactly persist with the same language I’d been using. But I remembered to caution him again, since it’d be annoying if other people took issue with me.
“Oh, huh. So that’s the way you normally talk? Hm. You sound like the kinda person who’s used to ordering others around. Figures...” Fresco sounded rather curious.
“Prying won’t do you any good.”
“Come on, a little bit won’t hurt. You can pry into my life if you want,” he countered.
I scoffed. “Who’d want to learn about some old dude like you?”
Fresco laughed so hard his shoulders shook. “Ha ha, you’re real rude when you wanna be, ain’tcha? Ah well... So, how’d the quest go? Lemme hear your report,” he said, his expression turning serious.