The Ambassador froze mid-step, his head slowly turning to shoot a look back over his shoulder, stuck in a state of unbelieving paralysis for the duration of the exchange between Amalie and Danny that followed the Commander's defiant exclamation. Had she not listened to what Johann had just said? Why would she be intent on disrespecting his wishes, especially if she knew that it upset him so? Finally, Johann's speechlessness would turn into an ice-cold fury when she produced the stamp that the silver-haired man knew only had a single purpose. Cold, unblinking eyes would stare at Amalie as she approached the young man, who had proclaimed to be his family, and told him to open his mouth, Johann, in a tone that was steeped in discernably overt displeasure, though in no raised voice, making an instinctual attempt to put an end to what he perceived as the opposition to his personal wishes, and further, as Amalie was definitively acting as the Commander of the guild, his directives as Ambassador of the guild.
"Stop this at once".
The word insubordination crossed his thoughts, and disappointment briefly flared up within his mind, countering the anger he'd felt and ultimately dissolving into nothing. He thought, trusted that Amalie, in particular, would understand his viewpoint, his intentions, but that trust had, evidently, been misplaced. Admittedly, he hadn't expected this meeting to unfurl in this manner and found himself in a state that he didn't find himself in often: He didn't know what to do, had no idea how to act.
Every fiber of his being wanted to simply turn around, leave before his anger could get the better of him, as it so often tended to do. The events of his life had left deep scars on his soul, and this meeting especially had reminded him of old wounds now once more torn open. Anger was an emotion that he couldn't rid himself of as a consequence of what had happened, and the silver-haired man, as much as he regretted it, couldn't seem to rid himself of that same emotion. Still, it would seem that, before he could take any action at all, the young man would take the word, Johann turning around fully to listen to what Daniel had to say, listen as he explained who he was, and why he was here.
"So you're the son of Clemens, huh?". Johann recalled the name, Clemens von Weiss, one of his three cousins. Well, one of two who were still alive, at least, but when the incident here on Amber Island had occurred, Clemens had been not much more than a boy himself. It was difficult to gauge how much of Lelija's character the boy from back then had inherited or learned over all these years. According to Daniel, though, the driving force behind him being here was his mother, a woman the silver-haired man had never heard of, though she was undoubtedly cut from the same cloth as the other nobles of Minstrel.
What Daniel had to say next, though, would hit surprisingly close to home for Johann, who's anger would subside almost immediately when the young man claimed that he had come here not at the order of his family, Johann's family, but his own behest, out of a wish to protect his son. Joh was a naive man, and he knew that he was, at times, too easy to deceive, though he couldn't help but emphasize with him. Of course, doubt would linger, but he was inclined to accept the other's words at face-value. After all, the same thing had happened to him years, decades before, rejected by his own family for reasons so selfish and narcissist that he couldn't help but detest their characters. His eyes wandered to the boy at their side, Samuel, the young man had called him, before returning to Daniel himself, the Ambassador's expression twisting from a stoic, unfeeling grimace paired with an unblinking, cold gaze to a look of disappointment once more, though he was disappointed in none other than himself. Struck with the sudden realization that he, if Daniel's story was indeed true, was no better than his family had been all those years prior if he turned the man and his son away where they stood. The Ambassador closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before letting a barely audible scoff escape his lips, followed by a brief pause and a heavy sigh.
"If what you say is true, Daniel-", Johann would open his eyes once more, seeking the gaze of the young man with an intent, judging glare in an attempt to discern any untruths or hidden motive, though failing to find any "-then I shall allow you and your son to stay. You will be provided with everything you need, and I will see about organizing a permanent place of residence on the island for you. However, be advised, Daniel-", Johann's demeanor would shift to a slightly more stern, but ultimately far less aggressive tone than before "-if you wish to stay here as a member of the guild, then I will place the same expectations in you as any other Soldier of Dies Irae. You will earn your keep. If you don't wish to be a Soldier, then it would be best to state that now. In any case, whatever your choice may be, Daniel, and Samuel, too-".
Johann took another breath before bowing forward slightly in a gesture of courtesy. He had mixed feelings about how this situation turned out, but his conscience wouldn't let him remain in inaction. The next part wouldn't be easy, but the Ambassador had acted out of line, and he had to acknowledge this much, continuing with a determined voice. "-I will not apologize for the way I feel towards my family. I have my reasons to think the way I do, but I am sorry for mistreating you based on assumptions alone. I realize that makes me no better than the rest of my family, and for that, I will ask for your forgiveness". The man would straighten his posture again, and once more sought Daniel's eyes with his own. "Truthfully, I wish neither of you harm, and indeed, should you require it, I will protect you from the influence of the von Weiss family if that is your desire. I will choose to trust you, your words, and your future actions, Daniel von Weiss. Please, do not betray the trust I place in you. If I find out that you do-", Johann's tone would shift to attain a slight sense of sternness once more, though lacked any overt maliciousness "-then I'm afraid there will be consequences. I hope we understand each other in this regard".
The man couldn't bring himself to smile, but the tension from before would leave his body, and he thought that he must've been a sorry sight, standing there on the stairway before the guild hall with his tattered clothing, berating a young man and his child for the sins of their family. It was almost an ironic scene, and if he hadn't been a participant in this display, he might've even found it amusing. His mind trailed off to events that had long since passed, nights he had spent in sorrow, in anger, cold, hungry, alone, lost. It seemed like the von Weiss-dynasty would never change. His eyes wandered once again, from Daniel, to his son, to the Commander at their side before closing once more, the man turning around towards the guild hall again, his thoughts, his mind in a state of disarray. This was a lot to take in, and a lot to work through. Preferably, he wanted to do so alone and in silence, but still, he would manage to produce a last sentence before wandering off.
"If that is all, I'll be in my office if you need anything. Oh, and Daniel-",
he would stop for only a second as he spoke in an almost neutral tone, though if one had been attentive enough, they would be able to discern a certain genuineness within the silver-haired man's voice as he did,
"-indeed, welcome to Dies Irae".
Word Count: 1,364
Word Count Total: 2,900
Word Count Thread Total: 7,005