Part of The Service
Rumors easily twisted the truth. The few threads of what actually happened were woven into a tapestry of intricate yet exaggerated proportions. Each telling became more complicated, more fanciful; certain parts were conveniently forgotten as others were added on. It soon became an attempt to look through a panel of smoked glass, the light on the other side of it dim, filtering almost into nothing.
No one ever tried to remedy these stories. No one ever cared to. The reality of their lifestyles became the stuff of myth and legend, letting the imagination run rampant with the fanciful tales spun.
There were several things the public were right about: the Service Men were the most skilled of their ranks, standing out among the common and the wealthy while simultaneously blending seamlessly into their surroundings. The strange part, however, was where they worked. True to their namesake, they waited upon the rich and well-to-do, assisted the poor and needy, protected the corrupt and disreputable, assuming their given roles without suspect. As they served the people indiscriminately, they carried an air of mysteriousness which had captivated the minds of the young and the young at heart; vivid descriptions of their whereabouts, their escapades were almost otherworldly in comparison to what many faced upon a day-to-day basis. However, the dreams of those who wished to join in their tasks clashed greatly with those who wanted to put an end to their so-called treachery.
Nothing stopped them from operating they way the did, and during the course of their run, they continued to meet in secret.
Where they were situated, no one knew, and it was never one specific area. Multiple places remained obscure and unnoticeable; abandoned buildings and the like were idea for such people to retreat from their known lifestyles.
Here, they were allowed to be normal human beings.
Not being on duty, a Service Man had time to relax and recuperate. Talk was inevitable. Catching up with each other was a necessary motion, easing their guarded mentality while lowering the defenses built up during certain operations. It also became good practice for any other interactions they would come across in future meetings. The topics were endless. Some had their qualms about the circumstances they faced within their private lives. Some dealt with social grievances as long as their next market list inside and outside of their circles. Tips were traded, advice was given and sometimes discarded, stories were shared, boasts were made. They all had their plans, their lifelong goals, what they needed, what they desired, where they wanted to go and what they wanted to do next.
He saw it all unfold whenever they chose to meet within the old church grounds. The aged cathedral was left unfinished, forgotten due to the lack of funds and sponsors, serving as one of the main gathering areas for these men and women who chose to serve under their given creed. Although they were all considered peers, there were still levels of classification set for each member. Being among the low, he was to attend and learn from those who claimed higher-ranked placement. He still had to make the progression into the higher ranks.
Although it was considered a good sign the elders had acknowledged his maturity and his level of experience, he did not see it as some did. Many romanticized hopes of joining the advanced ranks within the guild were immediately dashed; unlike them, he knew the tension between the most elite groupings was imminent. Loose lips had their way, continually fabricating and rewording what was said previously before passing the story onto any who were within hearing range. Words cut deeply as the sharpest of daggers; the right ones would rip a Service Man's reputation to shreds. The strongest recovered without any problems, going about their business as if it never happened. Others left. And then there were those who disappeared without a trace.
Actions, on the other hand, were another matter altogether. And those never ended well.
He had heard them all, truth and lie alike. He had also seen what had happened during his stay within the guild. He had been told who to trust, who to avoid, and what to do if the situation became chaotic. In the end, he chose to serve them just as they served others.
And it was to be so.
No one ever tried to remedy these stories. No one ever cared to. The reality of their lifestyles became the stuff of myth and legend, letting the imagination run rampant with the fanciful tales spun.
There were several things the public were right about: the Service Men were the most skilled of their ranks, standing out among the common and the wealthy while simultaneously blending seamlessly into their surroundings. The strange part, however, was where they worked. True to their namesake, they waited upon the rich and well-to-do, assisted the poor and needy, protected the corrupt and disreputable, assuming their given roles without suspect. As they served the people indiscriminately, they carried an air of mysteriousness which had captivated the minds of the young and the young at heart; vivid descriptions of their whereabouts, their escapades were almost otherworldly in comparison to what many faced upon a day-to-day basis. However, the dreams of those who wished to join in their tasks clashed greatly with those who wanted to put an end to their so-called treachery.
Nothing stopped them from operating they way the did, and during the course of their run, they continued to meet in secret.
Where they were situated, no one knew, and it was never one specific area. Multiple places remained obscure and unnoticeable; abandoned buildings and the like were idea for such people to retreat from their known lifestyles.
Here, they were allowed to be normal human beings.
Not being on duty, a Service Man had time to relax and recuperate. Talk was inevitable. Catching up with each other was a necessary motion, easing their guarded mentality while lowering the defenses built up during certain operations. It also became good practice for any other interactions they would come across in future meetings. The topics were endless. Some had their qualms about the circumstances they faced within their private lives. Some dealt with social grievances as long as their next market list inside and outside of their circles. Tips were traded, advice was given and sometimes discarded, stories were shared, boasts were made. They all had their plans, their lifelong goals, what they needed, what they desired, where they wanted to go and what they wanted to do next.
He saw it all unfold whenever they chose to meet within the old church grounds. The aged cathedral was left unfinished, forgotten due to the lack of funds and sponsors, serving as one of the main gathering areas for these men and women who chose to serve under their given creed. Although they were all considered peers, there were still levels of classification set for each member. Being among the low, he was to attend and learn from those who claimed higher-ranked placement. He still had to make the progression into the higher ranks.
Although it was considered a good sign the elders had acknowledged his maturity and his level of experience, he did not see it as some did. Many romanticized hopes of joining the advanced ranks within the guild were immediately dashed; unlike them, he knew the tension between the most elite groupings was imminent. Loose lips had their way, continually fabricating and rewording what was said previously before passing the story onto any who were within hearing range. Words cut deeply as the sharpest of daggers; the right ones would rip a Service Man's reputation to shreds. The strongest recovered without any problems, going about their business as if it never happened. Others left. And then there were those who disappeared without a trace.
Actions, on the other hand, were another matter altogether. And those never ended well.
He had heard them all, truth and lie alike. He had also seen what had happened during his stay within the guild. He had been told who to trust, who to avoid, and what to do if the situation became chaotic. In the end, he chose to serve them just as they served others.
And it was to be so.