The Prince of Astoria-Chapter 85: LXXXV - Maybe

Etienne stared at the ringing phone for a few more seconds. He stared at the picture of himself and Money laughing together, before answering the call.

"Hello?" He answered.

"What’s up, Prince?" Money answered happily, "I know I haven’t hit you up since we talked at my apartment last week. The Fellows haven’t had any meeting since Julian Mason announced his bid for mayor a little while ago."

"I didn’t even notice," Etienne thought to himself, "I need to do a better job keeping up with this stuff."

"Wait, wait, wait. I thought the Fellows held meetings every week. Every Sunday, like clockwork. That’s how my parents always did it. Do you know do that anymore?" Etienne questioned.

Money sighed, "I told it’s changed. Everything has changed. We have been holding weekly meetings until last month. Ever since Stone resigned from the group, the culture of the Fellows has been shifting fast. If I’m being honest with you, it seems like the Fellows is already under the Good People Company’s control."

"Really? It’s that bad?" Etienne questioned, "But I talked to Lionel, I figured the issues would be a bit better..."

"Nope, not at all. In fact, since last week, it seems like Lionel has been more distant than ever. He won’t even return my calls at this point."

Money yawned, "As far as Julian Mason, I haven’t paid much attention to his campaign, but apparently he’s the favorite to win. Apparently he’s holding some kind of mayoral forum right in Portland later today. Did you want to come with me?"

Etienne smiled, "Yeah, I’ll come. I still haven’t met any members of this Good People Company you’ve been talking so much about," Etienne lied, "I think it’s about time I introduce myself. Where is it and what time?"

"They’re going to be holding it at the Rin-Carlson. Around 8pm I think."

"That’s about six hours from now," Etienne thought to himself.

"I know about the Rin-Carlson," Etienne exclaimed, "My parents always stayed there when they had business downtown. On the weekend, I’d come with them and run around the hotel. There was this awesome breakfast place there, I think it was called the Bullpine. Speaking of that, are you hungry?"

"I could eat," Money responded, "Why?"

"Let’s meet at Pennies and grab a bite to eat beforehand. That’s still your favorite restaurant, right?"

"Hell yeah!" Money nearly shouted, "I love that place! I still eat there at least once a week. The Portland location isn’t as good as the Astoria one, but whatever. I’ll be there in about two hours, I know it’ll take you a while to get there."

"Hey Money," Etienne interjected, "One more question before you hang up."

"What’s up," Money asked, a hint of concern entering his voice.

"Let’s say, just as an example, somebody hurt you badly. No, more than that...what if they took away almost everything you hold dear. Could you...kill that person? If it was as simple as snapping your fingers?"

Money was silent for a few moments, "You been watching a lot of movies while you’ve been recovering? Or are you writing a book? Where’s this coming from?"

Etienne pinched his forehead, regretting even asking the question, "It’s a moral dilemma I came across, like the trolley problem. Come on, just humor me."

Money was silent for a few seconds longer. His voice was more serious when he spoke again, "My father says if you see a monster, kill him. If you wait to hear his past, you may begin to love him. And while that has scary implications, I do agree with the idea of that. As long as I don’t know them, and as long as it really is as simple as snapping your fingers...then maybe. Maybe I could."

Etienne and Money were silent for a long time. The only audible sound on the phone was the sound of their breathing.

Etienne shook himself out of his daze, "Maybe, huh?"

"What about you, Prince? Could you do it?"

Etienne exhaled and shook his head. He thought about his parents, their smiling faces which were little more than a distant memory by now. He thought about the deterioration of the things they created. He thought about the success his aunt, uncle and cousins enjoyed, off of his parents fortune. He thought about the trials he faced becoming a ninja, years and years of grueling, painful training that left him near death.

"Maybe. Maybe I could."

___________________________________________________________

Gabe sped down the narrow two lane highway, and Etienne stared out of the window, their surroundings little more than a blur.

Gabe glanced at Etienne’s expression, he was pensive and distracted.

"Am I going too fast?" Gabe asked.

Etienne snapped out of his daze for a moment, "No, not at all. Your driving kind of reminds me of when your dad used to drive us all around. He always drove so fast but never broke any traffic laws."

Gabe chuckled, "I remember Master Blessing was a fan of father’s driving, Lady Amaya, not so much."

Etienne returned to looking out of the window, losing himself in his thoughts.

"Do you remember how my father, and eventually I came to be in your parents’ employ?" Gabe asked, "I think it’s been a while since I told the story."

Etienne shook his head, "You’re right. It’s been a while."

Gabe smiled, "Around 30 years ago, a young British man from a posh, aristocratic family came to America seeking new opportunities. His family all but ousted him for not following the family tradition and becoming a doctor. He set out to forge his own path, so he came to New York."

"I remember this part," Etienne muttered.

"At the time," Gabe continued, "He struggled to find any meaningful employment, so he took to temporary work and found a job working at a toy factory. The toy factory was owned by two master toymakers, Blessing Blessad and Amaya Blessad. At the time, they were recently married and their toy company was booming. They began to outsell even the giants that were established for over a hundred years with their innovative designs."

"They changed the standard for how toys are made. Higher quality on even the cheapest, smallest toys, and integrated technology in almost all of them," Etienne added.

"Right. The young British man moved up the ladder, first becoming a full time employee, then a team lead and finally the site manager. He went from a faceless employee to Manager Michael. During that time as well, he fell in love with a young woman in his apartment building. She was sickly, even when he met her, but he didn’t care at all."

Tears welled up in Gabe’s eyes, "They would marry soon after, but it didn’t last long until her sickness caught up to her. Before she — before my mother left this world, she left my father with one final gift. A child. A healthy boy. Me."

"Sorry Gabe. You didn’t have to go over that part...I remember," Etienne spoke quietly.

Gabe continued, "Despite his grief, Michael continued his work at the factory and took care of his son on his own, but he sought a change. Even though he loved the Blessing family and their toy company, he needed a better work life balance, he needed a career where he could spend more time with his son. Around that time, when I was four or five years old, Lady Amaya became pregnant, and the toy making couple sought to leave New York for someone quieter and more peaceful. They chose to leave their family and friends behind and largely step down from their business, only serving in an advisory role. And they chose to move to Oregon."

Gabe beamed, "My father, being the go-getter and optimist he was, walked into Master Blessing and Lady Amaya’s office and asked to come with them. At first, they laughed it off, thinking it was a joke, but he was deadly serious. He told them he wanted to change career paths, and that he loved working for them so much he would do anything they needed in Oregon. He would cook their food, iron their clothes, take care of Lady Amaya during her pregnancy...and they refused. At first."

Etienne grinned, "From what I remember, they refused a few times, right?"

"Exactly," Gabe laughed, "He would call them day and night, telling them they would need a house manager and despite his inexperience, he could fulfill the role. As more details came out and they revealed the large oceanside mansion they were purchasing, he only became more adamant. Finally, Master Blessing caved. He stated he’d give my father a six month trial period, and he said there was no guarantee they’d keep him on, even if he did a good job. And the rest is history."

Etienne sighed, "I miss them Gabe. My parents, your dad...they should still be here. But I’m starting to doubt the best way to honor them. I have the proof and the power now, but is that what they would’ve wanted? For me to slay their killers in cold blood?"

Gabe stared at Etienne, with something different behind his eyes.

"I didn’t believe you about your aunt and uncle being involved until I saw the proof. But now that I’ve seen it...I don’t know. I don’t know what they would have wanted. And I also don’t know if sparing them is the answer."

Etienne looked back out of the window, returning to his thoughts, "Maybe it’s not."