I didn't say it was more than anyone else's. But unreasonable is not the same as childish.
[Then again, Jedao was never a child, so what would he know? He lets out a slow breath.]
He wants to know something has been done. I know he wasn't the one attacked. But it's not an unreasonable thing to want in this place, in general. And I think more assurance than I can give him second-hand is the best chance of defusing that fixation.
Which is why I brought you in. It doesn't matter what I say: he doesn't want to believe me.
There are men who can work around that. I'm not one of them. [ It's obvious from his tone that he doesn't actually think there's anything wrong with that. It's just a different strength, one he doesn't happen to have. People like Norton or Kashiwagi or Kazama, his Pops, he can admire them... but he's never been one to succeed that way himself. His own reputation and strength is in being plainspoken, forthright, and dealing honestly.
Also punching people, but that won't help here. They're trying to avoid that. ]
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.]
...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.
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.
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Re: as this happens
[Then again, Jedao was never a child, so what would he know? He lets out a slow breath.]
He wants to know something has been done. I know he wasn't the one attacked. But it's not an unreasonable thing to want in this place, in general. And I think more assurance than I can give him second-hand is the best chance of defusing that fixation.
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There are men who can work around that. I'm not one of them. [ It's obvious from his tone that he doesn't actually think there's anything wrong with that. It's just a different strength, one he doesn't happen to have. People like Norton or Kashiwagi or Kazama, his Pops, he can admire them... but he's never been one to succeed that way himself. His own reputation and strength is in being plainspoken, forthright, and dealing honestly.
Also punching people, but that won't help here. They're trying to avoid that. ]
So there wasn't any point talking further.
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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?
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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.
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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?
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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. ]
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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.]
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Pirates are more rare when I come from. But the underworld I know, society outside of the law... it isn't much different.
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There's nothing outside of the law but heretics. And until quite recently, heretics never survived long enough to build anything.
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[ He's curious. That's... certainly a name to put on outsiders. ]
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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.
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[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.