"Aurelie," Joseph growled. "Aurelie Steerpike." Never did a thing, never harmed nothing. Girl with bad damn clocking timing. Stupid sweet little thing who keeps getting in the way when I'm working.

The scrap looked the galdor dead in the eyes. If he'd had his mop, he would have leaned against it, looking most casual and impudent. But for now he merely kept his arms folded across his chest, staring down his thin nose with his eyes hooded and glaring.

Don't look at that shed. Look at me, bastard, prick, arrogant well-bred mona-cloaked son of a bitch. Don't even think about that shed. That shed doesn't matter and what's in it doesn't matter.

"I am sorry, sir, for Abernathy's insolence," said Ernst, shooting daggers at the younger man, standing as he was without an inch of respect.

"As I said, sir, the other passive,"no names from Ernst, no matter how impudently Joseph seemed to deludedly insist she was a person. Oh, Ernst could kill him for talking to a galdor in such a way. It was all well and good for him to play the hero now, but Ernst knew that he didnt care for her....not enough to save her.

"The other passive is in the coalshed, being punsihed for her lack of respect. I hope I did not act out of turn sir, but since it has been part of my job to punish disrespectful passives for almost ten years I assumed that, and let me assure you these two are a special case, that I would be able to do so."

Guarani gave Joseph only a quick glance at his words, but turned away from Ernst as he spoke, heading quickly on long strides toward the coalshed.

He leaned in through the doorway, never taking a step in the dirty space, and glanced at Aurelie. He muttered a quick syllable of monite that severed the binding at her wrists.

"All three of you, follow me," he said, hovering only long enough to ensure that Aurelie could walk without assistance, before striding across the grounds.

He didn't look back at them, seemingly confident that his authoritative word was all that was necessary to ensure that they would follow.

Come with me. Just like that? Joseph looked this galdor up and down. Field didn't feel particularly menacing, arrogant greenie probably through he was dealing with meek little things who could be cowed by the slightest bit of field. Joseph's eyes slid to Ernst. Thanks to that groveling tit, no doubt. And this golly would pull them straight into his lion's den.... Joseph glanced at Aurelie, now freed.

No clocking sir.

Joseph spat blood at the patron's feet. "Why?" His ice eyes were hooded with irritable disdain.

Show me what fetters you think you have on me, greenie.

Patron Guarani didn't jump as Joseph spat at him, only glancing stoically at his shoe where red spittle had landed.

"Because," he stated in a matter-of-fact tone, "I told you to, and if you do not, you shall be moved forcibly. I thought I would allow you the dignity of walking yourself to my office, but if you'd rather I ask that the mona bind you up and tote you after us, I would certainly have no choice but to oblige."

His hands were folded neatly, and he spoke so simply that he might have been commenting on the weather rather than speaking of magically hog-tying the boy and dragging him about, for all one could infer from his tone. He looked Joseph directly in the eye, not challenging him, per se, but intently ready to take action on his decision quickly and efficiently once he made it.

This was certainly not where she'd wanted to be in life. No, if you had sat Aurelie Steerpike down and asked her what she wanted to be doing in the next few years, her answer would most assuredly not have been "meekly following behind a patron while trying to massage bloodflow back into her fingertips". That Joseph was still spitting and yowling like some cat someone was trying to take to be neutered was of no comfort at all. Jo's disobedience was Aurelie's punishment, it seemed.

"Thank you, Patron," Aurelie murmured. Imagine that, the most decent person she'd encountered that day, and he was a galdori patron!

"Joseph," she said, and her voice was sharp the way Patron Guarani's had not been, "I suggest you do what the Patron advises." Just looking at him brought all her anger and frustration to the surface. She tried to keep it from showing on her face, but-- clocking Joseph Abernathy! If he caused her any more trouble today, she would poison him herself.

Ernst didn’t say anything, just watched and wondered what the outcome would be. He wanted to squeeze Abernathy by the neck until his face turned blue and those insolent eyes burst in their sockets. This was what he had to deal with, his eyes implored the patron, such a blind lack of cooperation and without the mona to make threats of binding. He just wanted the damn scraps to work, he wouldn’t hit them, honestly he wouldn’t have to if they just did the job to the standard that Ernst felt the galdori deserved.

But he said nothing, just stood to attention, like the good passive he knew he was.

There was no guilt for what he had done, why would there be? Jo needed to be punished, Aurelie needed to be punished and if Joseph Abernathy had just washed the floor like he should have done then none of this would have happened. The Patron would not fault Ernst? How could he…and in his heart of hearts he still longed, so longed for a galdor to say ‘well done, Quilp’

The look Joseph gave Aurelie might have frozen water. As it was, though, like most people, she was comprised of much water, she was made of sterner stuff. She remained just as un-frozen and angered as before.

Joseph was becoming very tired of this girl.

He did not spare a look at Ernst. Didn't have to. He knew the weasly expression that would be on his clocking ugly face. No use bothering to turn that one to ice. If it was possible, Joseph would have done it nine years ago.

Last he looked at the patron, and his scar-twitched lip split into a thin leer, exposing a sliver of bloodied teeth. "You'd like that, wouldn't you? Mmm?" Joseph jutted his chin arrogantly. As though the Patron were the passive. "Can't have some golly having a grand old time," he nodded curtly. "Lead on, then."

Patron Guarani ignored Joseph's insolence for all intents and purposes, and began to lead the way to his office. It was near enough, just inside and down a hall, but it certainly felt like ages to follow a Patron that far, not knowing what would happen but knowing it couldn't be good.

When he reached the door, he opened it and glanced between the three of them, seeming to consider something. Finally, he said, "Mister Quilp, if you would wait here in the hall, please. I should like to speak to you momentarily."

He held the door propped, prepared to allow Joseph and Aurelie into the small office space and enter behind them.