Hope Held High/Laurent: The Elucidator

Laurent: The Elucidator - C

Anna	Thanks for all the help, Laurent. My shop’s shipshape thanks to you!
Hardly. We’ve only just started to see signs of improvement. You supply the Order of Heroes, yes? Yet your stock is overflowing.		Laurent
Anna	It’s convenient to have plenty of things on hand, though. Isn’t it? Take this pot! It’s perfect for popping right on your noggin like a helmet.
Only one Hero would even consider doing that. Well, I do believe we have uncovered why it is that you’re just barely turning a profit...		Laurent
Jorge	I’ve heard tales of your discerning eye and talent for management, but you’re something else! It’s going to be a lot easier to balance the budget thanks to you.
Balancing the budget is far from your only worry. Take your system for managing the inventory... I just took a look at what you call ”the books,” and it’s nigh impossible to match them to...this.		Laurent
Anna	Oh, that comes with time. Spend a day or three in the shop, and you’ll be able to find anything!
It’s not just an issue of finding things, but of managing the stock amidst this clutter. Let’s do better, shall we? For a start, take a look at the ledger...		Laurent
Jorge	What’s that say? Oh, cosmetics! A popular category with many Heroes, you’ll be pleased to hear.
Popular? Perhaps. But overstocked as well, I believe. I’ll be looking into this, I assure you.		Laurent

Laurent: The Elucidator - B

Laurent	Charlotte, good. I do appreciate your taking the time to meet with me.
Not at all! Tell me, what did you want to talk about?		Charlotte
Laurent	Cosmetics. Notably, those supplied by the Askr Branch of the Ylisse Division of Anna & Company.
Oh, my, yes! I am grateful that Anna stocks so many fine things.		Charlotte
Laurent	I’ll be sure to let her know. But that is not the crux of it. I’ve looked at the books, and it seems you consume rather a lot of them.
Oh? I do?		Charlotte
Laurent	The Order of Heroes’ budget does have it’s limits, I’m afraid. In fact, those limits have been breached. Do you think you might reduce the quantity of cosmetic supplies you request? Of course, you may purchase as much as you wish with your own funds. But the Order, well...
Cut down, you mean.		Charlotte
Laurent	I do realize that makeup can have wonderful effects on the mood— even boosting battle efficacy. But there are limits to how big a bill the Order can foot.
Oh, I’m so sorry.		Charlotte
Laurent	I am sorry as well—to ask this of you. It would help us a lot, however, if you could find a way to be more frugal.
I’ll do what I can. Laurent, you know... You seem like a serious, diligent man. If you don’t mind... Tell me a little bit about yourself. Start with your family, please.		Charlotte
Laurent	Where to start... We’re a family of scholars, since my grandmother’s day. I suppose that’s it, really.
...Scholars, not nobility. But scholars invent things... That can be a jackpot.		Charlotte
Laurent	What was that?
Oh, nothing. Nothing at all! Looking forward to spending more time with you in the future, Laurent!		Charlotte
Laurent	And I, you. I do appreciate your taking the time to meet with me today.

Laurent: The Elucidator - A

Anna	Hey, Laurent... You asked Charlotte to cut back on the cosmetics, right?
Indeed. We met and I explained the seriousness of the issue to our war effort.		Laurent
Anna	All right. Thing is...she hasn’t cut back her order at all. Numbers don’t lie!
What?		Laurent
Jorge	Hmm. You’re right. It’s the same as before. Actually...it looks like she bumped up the latest order.
It appears so. Please excuse me. I must attend to an urgent matter.		Laurent
I felt that we had reached an understanding when we spoke the other day. You did not decrease your cosmetics order. No, you, in point of fact, increased it!		Laurent
Charlotte	Oh, I’m so sorry. It seems I just overlooked something. Silly me!
Silly or not, this issue remains unresolved. You must understand that Askr is embroiled in a conflict with no end in sight. All us receive a stipend to cover necessary expenses, drawn from the taxes the Askrans pay.		Laurent
Charlotte	*sigh*
Even the princess and the queen themselves are quite frugal, I am told. And they are royalty! You must consider your position here.		Laurent
Charlotte	*growl*
What was that?		Laurent
Charlotte	Pompous fool! You’re delivering this ridiculous lecture... Can you even hear yourself?
What?		Laurent
Charlotte	What choice do I have? I need to hurry up and reel in a rich and powerful sucker! My parents aren’t getting any younger, are they? Well, are they? My hair and skin have to be pristine! I’m competing with the crème de la crème of nobility, here!
I...		Laurent
Charlotte	I’m well aware that Askr is in a tough situation! That’s why I put my life on the line! What’s wrong with a little pampering? Agh!
...		Laurent
Charlotte	Oh, my! What’s gotten into me? I must have been bitten by an evil little fairy. Hee-hee! Silly me! I’ve just remembered something urgent I simply must attend to. If you’ll excuse me...
Hmm. I understand now. Please, Charlotte, wait.		Laurent

Laurent: The Elucidator - S

Laurent	Charlotte. I noticed that your demeanor changed just now. Was that the real you?
*gasp* Well, I guess there’s no need to keep up the charade if the cat’s out of the bag. Yep, that’s me.		Charlotte
Laurent	Aha.
Not much of a reaction. Could it be that you’re still processing this shocking development?		Charlotte
Laurent	Indeed, no. In point of fact, I have an ally who is of similar constitution. She hid her true self as a compromise with the world.
I guess there are people all across the realms with similar minds.		Charlotte
Laurent	It means that I do , in some small way, understand the challenge you face. You need these cosmetics to live in a way that is true to yourself. And you need them to fight, as surely as I need my tome.
...		Charlotte
Laurent	Forget about the budget. I’ll figure something out.
Really? You mean it?		Charlotte
Laurent	But in return, I shall expect the utmost in effort from you in battle. Even more than before. If you can excel in battle, I shall have no cause for complaint. Shall I?
So you DO get it! I had thought you were some lofty scholar, arrogant and stubborn. But you’re actually pretty reasonable!		Charlotte
Laurent	How is it you ever managed to form such an opinion, I wonder...
You know, I’m grateful. Let me know if you need my help—I owe you one.		Charlotte
Laurent	Is that so? I do have a request—an immediate one. That splendid show of rage earlier...
Splendid?		Charlotte
Laurent	The way you said “pompous fool” had a particular richness. Perhaps you can adopt an even harsher tone next time. Well, then. Without further ado...
Off he goes. Just when I thought he might be all right... Is he some kind of weirdo?		Charlotte

Scenario
← Yarne		Morgan M →
Hope Held High
Inigo	Severa	Laurent	Lucina

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