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I know. And he might easily not think it's enough, if he did believe.
You urged me to take a chance, to try trust. I offered him his sword back. He didn't take it. Furious enough to be dangerous, too honest to reach for something he wants badly. He is trying.
[It's frustrating, because he thinks Flint wouldn't feel the injustice of it all so keenly if he were armed, but Jedao can't push it on him, not carelessly, not when James is truly trying to do this in an honorable way, despite all his bitterness.]
In time, if I can bring him to listen, would you?
You urged me to take a chance, to try trust. I offered him his sword back. He didn't take it. Furious enough to be dangerous, too honest to reach for something he wants badly. He is trying.
[It's frustrating, because he thinks Flint wouldn't feel the injustice of it all so keenly if he were armed, but Jedao can't push it on him, not carelessly, not when James is truly trying to do this in an honorable way, despite all his bitterness.]
In time, if I can bring him to listen, would you?
[ That's an easy enough nod. ]
Of course.
Flint-san... was a friend. I would see that wound healed, if it can be. And I'm not unaware that he approached Hands-san on the network.
And not with a chair to the back of the head.
Of course.
Flint-san... was a friend. I would see that wound healed, if it can be. And I'm not unaware that he approached Hands-san on the network.
And not with a chair to the back of the head.
Thank you.
I don't mean to step into that conversation. It would be salt to no purpose, right now. But I'll keep my eye on it as best I can.
And I think I ought to have a proper conversation with Israel. Is there anything in particular I should be careful of?
I don't mean to step into that conversation. It would be salt to no purpose, right now. But I'll keep my eye on it as best I can.
And I think I ought to have a proper conversation with Israel. Is there anything in particular I should be careful of?
...asking about his captain, Blackbeard, one of the other wardens, will get a reaction.
He's a professional. And a practical man. He hasn't survived in the world he's lived in without avoiding trouble he can. His pride is second to that, even if it can be wounded. And he has pride in that sense.
He follows his own code, strictly. Implying otherwise is an insult. But he's still a pirate. A criminal.
[ One of his own, really. ]
He's a professional. And a practical man. He hasn't survived in the world he's lived in without avoiding trouble he can. His pride is second to that, even if it can be wounded. And he has pride in that sense.
He follows his own code, strictly. Implying otherwise is an insult. But he's still a pirate. A criminal.
[ One of his own, really. ]
Thank you.
It's funny, we don't really have any pirates in the Hept - in the Compact.
[He wonders, sometimes, why he was chosen for James, except when his whole chest hurts with knowing.]
It's funny, we don't really have any pirates in the Hept - in the Compact.
[He wonders, sometimes, why he was chosen for James, except when his whole chest hurts with knowing.]
[ There's a bit of a shrug at that; he assumes that the underworld takes some other form where Jedao is from. ]
Pirates are more rare when I come from. But the underworld I know, society outside of the law... it isn't much different.
Pirates are more rare when I come from. But the underworld I know, society outside of the law... it isn't much different.
[Jedao shakes his head.]
There's nothing outside of the law but heretics. And until quite recently, heretics never survived long enough to build anything.
There's nothing outside of the law but heretics. And until quite recently, heretics never survived long enough to build anything.
Heretics?
[ He's curious. That's... certainly a name to put on outsiders. ]
[ He's curious. That's... certainly a name to put on outsiders. ]
That's the word we use.
We had criminals - petty crimes, or crimes of passion, and border smugglers that exist on the factions' sufferance, the better to help smuggle our agents across when called upon. But nothing...nothing with community. Unless it's heresy and treason.
We had criminals - petty crimes, or crimes of passion, and border smugglers that exist on the factions' sufferance, the better to help smuggle our agents across when called upon. But nothing...nothing with community. Unless it's heresy and treason.
Anything from innocent mistakes to open rebellion.
[He shrugs awkwardly.]
It’s different now, with the Compact. But it’s only been two years since the fall of the Hexarchate, so any underworlds starting up are probably still local.
Not that anyone would tell me if it were otherwise, I suppose.
[He shrugs awkwardly.]
It’s different now, with the Compact. But it’s only been two years since the fall of the Hexarchate, so any underworlds starting up are probably still local.
Not that anyone would tell me if it were otherwise, I suppose.
Hey. You up for some complex hypotheticals?
Sure.
Like this, or in person?
Like this, or in person?
In person. Got a preference on where to meet? I don't
I don't get out enough. Your cabin?
806. Door will be unlocked
He knocks anyway, as a way of announcing his arrival, but comes in right after.
"Hello, Natalie."
"Hello, Natalie."
"Hey."
The room is fairly tidy, no messes anywhere, but not cleaned to perfection. On the small table off to the side are some cups and a small selection of tea bags from the commissary.
"Water's boiling. Have a seat, relax, stretch those puzzle-solving muscles. This one's big."
The room is fairly tidy, no messes anywhere, but not cleaned to perfection. On the small table off to the side are some cups and a small selection of tea bags from the commissary.
"Water's boiling. Have a seat, relax, stretch those puzzle-solving muscles. This one's big."
[[Continued from here!]]
[Eiffel feels like he's not getting his nuance through properly in text, time to ramble at top speed before he can think about what he's actually saying.]
So it's not like I'm opposed to you flirting with me because you've made it pretty clear that Gonou's okay with it and I don't want it to be weird between you guys because of me but since you guys both seem like you're being good about that whole thing I guess I'm good with it maybe I dunno it's just weird being flirted with I've never really had it from a guy before and I'm really not very good at it so whatever you I'm not gonna be as impressive or sexy or whatever back and I--
[hold on he needs to breathe]
[Eiffel feels like he's not getting his nuance through properly in text, time to ramble at top speed before he can think about what he's actually saying.]
So it's not like I'm opposed to you flirting with me because you've made it pretty clear that Gonou's okay with it and I don't want it to be weird between you guys because of me but since you guys both seem like you're being good about that whole thing I guess I'm good with it maybe I dunno it's just weird being flirted with I've never really had it from a guy before and I'm really not very good at it so whatever you I'm not gonna be as impressive or sexy or whatever back and I--
[hold on he needs to breathe]
Edited 2023-04-05 06:25 (UTC)
I also don't know how to flirt?
I mean if I were any good at it you would be less freaked out, maybe.
I mean if I were any good at it you would be less freaked out, maybe.
Seriously? Jedao, you're like, Space Captain Casanova, you're the smoothest talker this side of the U.S.S. Snake Oil.
Well I haven't done it before! I just...see opportunities and then don't squirm around horribly overthinking everything until after I've already said whatever it was!
Should I be less smooth? I can do that.
Should I be less smooth? I can do that.
...wait.
Do you not know what, like. Actual Earthican flirting is??
Do you not know what, like. Actual Earthican flirting is??
I know what flirting is!
[Eiffel can't see his blush on audio. But Eiffel can totally tell he's defensively blushing. He takes a deep breath.]
I just mean. It doesn't matter how clever or smooth something is. If you're stressing out about it instead of -
Just. Then that's a failure.
[Eiffel can't see his blush on audio. But Eiffel can totally tell he's defensively blushing. He takes a deep breath.]
I just mean. It doesn't matter how clever or smooth something is. If you're stressing out about it instead of -
Just. Then that's a failure.
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