Theory and Practice, Supplemental Lessons

[OttoVann]

Otto keeps his forward leaning posture as he bounces his reply off of her "But you studied Law correct? A 'barrister' you said?"

 

"It's interesting your idea of Justice leaves no room for dispute. As in you disputing the facts of a case in a court. I was under the impression what makes Eorzean Justice so interesting is that it is in constant dispute by practitioners of Law when people are brought before 'Inquisitors' or Courts or any other system."

 

With an almost disappointed expression he tilts his head to the side "Or were you speaking of something more...societal?"

 

Otto would click his tongue off the roof of his mouth to make a 'tsk' sound "I suppose you are a revolutionary first and foremost though. Your undershirt is as much as an indicator as any."

 

Otto shakes his head at his last immediate thought "As far as the Syndicate is concerned. I can assure you your disagreements with most of us would be far more than professional. Most of the people who are in this little organization are little lordlings, inheriting wealth from their parents with no self-worth or talent. True, some are shrewd at business - and even good at it. Most though are so incompetent and lazy that they resort to petty things like smuggling to make coin then pat themselves on the back and declare it a good day's work."

[111]

"Master Otto, you misunderstand the role of law, and of Barristers. We do not seek to define justice, only to define if an act is just or unjust."

 

"The concept itself is much more elusive..." She nods, "For example, if you are with someone, I am sure you know if you love them or not." She looks at her empty glass forlornly, "But to /define/ love? Such is a feat."

 

"Similar things could be said of art, or good, or evil. They are often easy enough to recognize, and nigh impossible to categorize."

 

At his syndicate comments she drums her fingers on the table, "That... is depressingly accurate sounding." Evangeline sighs, "Though, as I said, I have given up my attempts to simply exterminate them like vermin. The situation is far more complicated, like you describe."

 

"Though, I am curious, why you would hate your own compatriots so?"

[OttoVann]

Otto stands with a knock on the table with his knuckles "I'll go fetch you another drink. In the meantime consider this. You may frame actions within the confines of a Justice System to paint them as just or unjust. Thats fine, but expand on that for me. I thought you revolutionaries sought to dispute the current forms of Justice - challenge what is 'right' and 'wrong'. Have something for me by the time I return."

 

With his last words hanging, he turns and heads to the bar to signal for two more drinks. He stands while leaning to the side, propping himself up again with an arm as he leans and observes her thinking. He smiles for just a moment - enough to appreciate the fact that he is sitting across from someone who is educated - but also intelligent. Very different traits that many lack together. He would speak to the barkeep without turning his head towards him "Keep our drinks coming for the rest of the night, I won't be fetching them repeatedly."

 

As soon as his words end two glasses smoothly slide across the bar to him and not a word of acknowledgment. There doesn't need to be. He takes his fresh drinks and walks back to his table with Eva, she gleaming in light from her freshly revealed chain she wears. He can't help but to think of how to work on her fashion sense. Another time perhaps.

 

Otto stands before Eva smiling as he places a fresh glass on the table, again sliding it from behind with a finger to the edge of the table in front of her. He would take his seat at once, depositing his own tumbler on the table before clearing his throat to speak.

 

"Before you go on with your ideas and ideals, I should do you the courtesy of answering your question. To be blunt I don't consider many, if any Syndicate members to be my compatriot because most of them are never going to be my equal. They aren't self-made, they lack the acumen needed to succeed without inheritance, most of them can't balance a ledger. These people are not my own. We are merely apart of the same...union to reap benefits."

[111]

She takes the drink with a thankful nod, "There are no forms of justice, Master Otto, merely interpretations of it."

 

"However they are all shadows of a concrete idea, like how a flickering flame might throw many different shadows of an object onto a wall." She smiles wryly, "If only we had the original to examine, we could understand it better."

 

She leans forward, "You spoke of benefits, Master Otto, ones that outweigh both risks, and your own distaste for the organization. What benefits might those be? And why should a man of your status need such things?"

[OttoVann]

Otto takes the slightest sip from his drink, wanting to avoid losing his sobriety too much with this woman.

 

Setting his glass back on the table he shakes his head once as he speaks "Mmm I would like to think justice takes on the form of custom or what is already established. What gets assigned as customary and established is whatever shows the most might. I would not like to think of it as this nebulous concept that you can't assign even a border to. You could say 'Well what is custom?' I like to think custom is what people can most consider agreeable.

 

Think about the people who have by and large ignored your desire to be radical with their idea of what should be customary. There hasn't been a revolt in Ul'Dah for some time, mostly because people have assigned antiquity to our ruling family and accepted them as just and fair, what they can agree to. What other reason would this peace remain?"

 

"I think I can further make my point with what you just said. 'Why does a man of my status need the Syndicate'?"

 

 

Otto rubs his eyes with both palms of his hands, tired and wishing he were elsewhere with this woman - not this city. "Well a man like myself has no status. I came to Ul'Dah as an outsider, selling everything my past life had in it to afford the move and to try to establish myself here. People chose to not ignore me because I offered generosity and fair and just pricing. I never gouged, even when I could. Even now you can buy one of my finest Ruby Rings for less than four-hundred thousand gil. I've personally held in my hand a competitors ring that had three times the asking price and one-third less workmanship. Despite all of that - making a large amount of gil was nothing in this city. Joining the Syndicate is what I needed to do to have status assigned to me - because that is customary, and fair for this city. Just like nobility is automatically assigned fair treatment. You have to belong to your societies norms for status."

 

Otto takes another, small and insignificant pull from his drink before setting it back onto the table "Forgive my rambling. You wanted to know specifics about the benefits of Syndicate?"

 

"Well lets start with the easiest - having access to force. It gives me might, something so obvious that you can't dispute it." Otto holds up his hand as he continues into his example "People do not touch me, did you know that? Do you know how many times I've had little half-men Miqo wanting for an excuse to hit me to show off? And then you lean into these people get face to face with them, with your arms behind your back - totally defenseless and you tell them 'Do you really want to touch a Syndicate man'?" Otto holds his hand to his face to show closeness. "You don't have to say anything else, their bravado evaporates instantaneously."

 

"Don't mistake me though. I am no bully. I mostly use Syndicate connections for business reasons. To trade favorably - to secure better interest rates. I very much view it as a club more than a political arm of Ul'dah'n governance - which it very much is. I refuse on a matter of principle to abuse the system like...so many other Syndicate people do. I don't break the law for the sake of it and smuggle, I don't twist peoples arms and get people out of their criminal charges. I view the Syndicate as a way to further my own business and I very much keep to myself. Its what makes me feel so superior to the rest of the louses running around within it - always scheming like children at the playground. They're so busy playing with mommy and daddies wealth that they can't run a proper stall - much less a business or even a collective of businesses."

 

A thought of particular Syndicate men that Otto loathes with a passion crosses his mind and he outbursts at the mere existence of such petty people. He would take one last sip from his drink and then sling it with force into the wall perpendicular to their table several feet away. "Want to know whats wrong with me? Everything this city has to offer."

[111]

Evangeline calmly watches his outburst, the glass shattering onto the wall and floor, and defensively scoots her drink further away from Otto, lest he get any ideas.

 

"I am aware, Mr Otto, it is why I dislike them. Selfish fools who can see no further than their own pleasure, and the acquisition of wealth."

 

She smiles, "I was pleasantly surprised to find you were not one of them." Taking a slow drink, "If you think this place has nothing to offer, perhaps you should listen to me more seriously then."

 

"Your wealth was used for more than my posters and fliers. Bread, Clothes, Shelter, Medicine..." She nods, "Lives were saved because of it... though I am unsure if you care." She shrugs, "For all you speak of being different from those others associated with the Syndicate, you are self centered in your own way. I have never seen you raise concern for anything other than yourself and your pleasures."

 

Evangeline leans back, enjoying how wonderfully fuzzy and warm her skin has gotten, and she ventures a more personal question, "For all you speak of being different from those others associated with the Syndicate, you are self centered in your own way. I have never seen you raise concern for anything other than yourself and your pleasures."

 

She swirls her glass around, "Speak honestly, other than women, alcohol, and money, what other concerns motivate you, Master Otto. I ask this question not to insult, but to understand."

[OttoVann]

"I differentiate myself by being good at business. I create works of art with my hands. Its no accident I had my meteoric rise to fame and fortune. I have a passion for creating fashion and I have no equal. What do fools like Jameson Taeros or others like him do?" Otto starts to become more vocal with his hands as he speaks, irritated "They can't run a business. They can't make things people desire with their hands. They're political runts, with more criminality in them than honesty could ever be."

 

Otto sits up and forward on the edge of his chair as he keeps speaking to Eva "Think of it like this. Tomorrow...if I lose...50 million gil, nobody cares - least of all me. Want to know why? I am beholden to no one. I've worked hard to maintain my independence in this city and I wear it with pride. I don't have people I need to maintain bribes with, I don't have vital connections I need to maintain with underworld elements. I refuse to even take business partners or investors. I wouldn't need their help anyways anymore, but the world could come to an end before I allow myself, my own tiny kingdom I've built, my everything to be not under my complete and total control"

 

Otto jabs his fingers into the table as he continues into his rant "Tomorrow if lets say...Addleton Corntal loses 50 million gil, you may as well sign his death certificate tonight. Lesser men like him to inherited their way into Syndicate affiliation, constantly greasing palms and bribing everything that breathes so they can avoid the Headsman - they can't handle sudden loss like that. They're criminal garbage who can't exist on their own merit. The moment they run out of coin is the moment they are gutted like any common thief. They can't run a shop, all they know is underhandedness. They resorted to smuggling, bribing, arm-twisting, and ultimately leaning on the Syndicate totally for their existence."

 

"Am I self-centered? Absolutely. I brought myself up from relatively humble beginnings in this city to being too powerful at times. Outside of whoring, drugs, money, and whatever fancies me for the day there isn't a lot I care about. Not anymore. Not presently anyways..." he trails off for the briefest instant before regaining his composure as he notices a barmaid approach the table with concern on her face. Otto gives her the fainest turn of the head, holding up two fingers again for indication to bring two more glasses. She hurries off wordlessly, what he would prefer right now.

 

 

Otto closes his eyes as he breathes in deeply, exhaling heavily. Re-opening them with no amusement in his expression he replies to her question "No I don't think I care too much about the betterment that was brought to people with the money I gave you. But that doesn't mean I wont give more anyhow. How much do you want? How much can you handle? One million? Four million?"

[111]

Evangeline shifts in her seat, "Taeros? Not the first time I've heard that name... though before I heard it in conjunction with Lady Crofte."

 

"Your self confidence does you well, Mr Otto, though my question remains unanswered? What is it all for?" She shrugs, "What do you even seek the money for, besides physical pleasures and influences over others."

 

Her eyes widen slightly at the amounts mentioned, "I do not think it would be proper, for me to take such large amounts." She leans forward, smiling slightly, "What of this, Master Otto, I propose a deal."

 

"I will accept your aid, perhaps several hundred thousand a month, similar to your first donation, and in doing so, will be in your debt." She takes a sip, "I mean truly, Master Otto, not just that you will have my gratitude. I will be at your disposal shall you ever need a favor of me."

 

"There is however, one catch." Her eyes twinkle merrily, "You must go with me to the camps, from time to time, and personally help distribute your charity."

 

"You might even enjoy the outing."

[OttoVann]

As quietly as they approached, the barmaid returns to their table with yet again, two more glasses and deposits them on the table, bowing as she turns and almost flees.

 

Otto takes one glasses and pushes it forward to Eva, letting it slide close enough to her grasp as he slides his own drink between his hands. He bats it back and forth, letting it glide between his hands as he tries to best sort his answer.

 

Looking up to her he replies almost regrettably, as if he expected more "Its not about the money." Otto shrugs as if to add addendum "Well it is about money - but for me its about what the money represents."

 

"Think about it. Its why I refuse partners in business or investors. My almost incalculable wealth represents me. Its why I care so much about appearance. Once you have over a couple hundred million gil having more doesn't matter as much as making it stand for something."

 

"I am in business for myself. I am in business for the sake of being in business. I could have retired a while ago, I have nearly worked myself to death at points to make all this wealth accumulate in my hands. Luck is one thing, perseverance is another. It's a whole other thing though to meet demand. For a while I worked...over two-thirds of a day, everyday just making away in my shops. In fact sometimes now, I'll make things for the joy of it and make hardly no profit off of it - compared to other things I could have done with my time."

 

Otto sits back ignoring his drink "Lets add some stipulations to this deal then. I'll need someone attractive at my arm if I ever go to these camps. I do have a reputation to maintain after all. You will be that arm accessory of mine, who knows you might even enjoy it."

 

"I also don't think this will be happening often. You also will learn to handle large sums of money. We can start with a million and work from there."

 

"How does all that sound?"

[111]

Evangeline looks up at the sky, "A million...?" She taps a finger on the table, "Very well, if that is what it takes." She nods, "I would accompany you of course, and I could care little about my attire. Choose it yourself it yourself if it pleases you."

 

She smiles, "I look forward to this... hopefully it ignites a spark in you as well."

 

Taking a slow sip, and finishing her second glass, "Was there anything else then Mr Otto?" She laughs, "I need to go ask a certain Elezen to a certain ball."

[OttoVann]

Evangeline looks up at the sky, "A million...?" She taps a finger on the table, "Very well, if that is what it takes." She nods, "I would accompany you of course, and I could care little about my attire. Choose it yourself it yourself if it pleases you."

 

She smiles, "I look forward to this... hopefully it ignites a spark in you as well."

 

Taking a slow sip, and finishing her second glass, "Was there anything else then Mr Otto?" She laughs, "I need to go ask a certain Elezen to a certain ball."

 

Otto rises from his chair and starts to roll down his sleeves and rebutton his collar. Doing all of this wordlessly while he considers her words he looks ahead as he secures his bowtie. He stands behind his chair, both hands rested on the back of it as he looks down to her while she is at the table "You will care about what you wear once I put you in clothes of my design."

 

With a dour expression he puts his coat on and looks back to her long enough to tell her "See you next time. I'm headed back North - I'm tired of shit city."