IC Inbox

[noblerise]

If contacting his personal number or via Libra:

"You have reached Jusis Albarea. I'm busy. Leave a message."

If contacting his work number:

"You have reached the office of Jusis Albarea, Esquire. I'm not available at this time, so please leave your name, number, and a brief message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you."

Black Order Inbox and Class VII Group Chat for reference.

Comments

late 5/1; voice; un: freelancer

[lapislazily]

As per our last conversation—

I do enjoy debating the loopholes of the law with you. However, before we continue, I want to make one thing clear.

I will never break a contract.

There are such things as unfair contracts, and those are dealt with using the spirit of the original contract to prove the malevolence in its creation.

But for those contracts made in good faith, there is no lenience. There is no, "Just this one time." For if a man cannot be trusted at his word, then what does he have? If the God of Contracts cannot be trusted to keep his word, then no one's contracts have weight, and there is nothing remotely resembling order to be found in this world.

If you would rather end our little agreement then you have my permission. We can settle the matter this way, unfair as the consequences might be to Patrizio, and never speak of it again. It was my expense and my unfair choice to lean on you for that request. I will accept any anger he wishes to throw in my direction, and I will endure whatever assumptions you might have about my personal matters. [Call him poor! He doesn't care!]

... However, I will not tolerate being accused of breaking a contract. You should know that I hold them to be inviolable.

[It's a sad truth that one day, the contract with the Black Order could put Jusis and Zhongli on different sides of the same line. What can be done then?]

I see the value in things: the beauty of your vase, the expert stitching in your suit, and yes, the inherent value in our continued friendship and cooperation. Despite our disagreements, I'd like to continue that friendship.

[He just wants Jusis to know he toed a line, that's all.]

That's all I have to say.

Take care.

[and he hangs up, jeez, most dramatic email reply ever]

[noblerise]

[Zhongli has perhaps said more than he thought in this basically verbal work email. Jusis can connect the dots to form quite the tapestry. To him, this is both a threat and a cry for help. This is a man who has forgotten that Rex Lapis is not meant to remain, but for Zhongli to step out from those ashes and live without those shackles.

He has to wonder if the man truly sees the value in friendship and not as just another contract. Another agreement to be shackled to.

There is no wisdom from a god being hurt by his own dogma.

Jusis sees no point in replying to this. Not just because Zhongli has made it clear he doesn't want to open a discussion on it today, if ever. Lines are being toed, certainly, and Zhongli has made his own misstep with the blond, but that won't be called out. Not today. Later, when Zhongli has cooled off.]