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takeatrip

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From:

takeatrip

[Jayden hadn't really been expecting contact of any sort from Crane for awhile, although he isn't exactly bothered by being wrong. He does, however, have to ask--]

Which question?

[There had been a lot of them, some of which Jayden had ignored more than others, so he doesn't know which one Crane's referring to.]

From:

restingstitchface

[Playing dumb is not only the preserve of his old students, it seems.]

Well, there was certainly more than one left unanswered, but let's start with the Fey.

[You never did answer his questions about their motives, Norman!]

From:

takeatrip

Oh, yeah, I guess I never did answer you on that.

[Now he's purposefully playing dumb, because he'd avoided answering that particular question very intentionally. There had been a reason for it, but the reason's over with, so--]

I think you're right to question their motives.

From:

restingstitchface

[Back to playing dumb, indeed.

Whatever. He ignored those students who indulged in foolishness. He can ignore this.]

Well, even a man like I can be right at times. Did you notice anything suspicious about their behaviour?

From:

takeatrip

No, I just came to this conclusion on a whim.

[Is this payback for Crane being annoying in response to Jayden's questions, both about this topic and later discussion? Of course it is. It's exactly that. He won't keep it up for long, but since he's now far less concerned about being polite, he'll enjoy the chance to be a little annoying.]

From:

restingstitchface

Of course you did.

[Is this a petulant response to his correcton of immature behaviour? Yes. Norman is like one of his students, indeed.]

Now, will you please share?

[The magic word - but not offered out of politeness, more frustration.]

From:

takeatrip

[He knows the 'please' is out of obligation rather than sentiment, but Jayden feels his point has been made anyway, so decides to dial down how annoying he's being. For the moment, anyway.]

You'd said that the Free Cities were more obvious in their intentions, whereas the Fey were engaging in subterfuge. I disagree; I think the Fey were just as overt as the Free Cities, but they were simply taking a different tactic.

[And he could be annoying again by giving room for back and forth instead of getting to the point, but decides not to be and so soon continues.]

They could use some allies. We're obvious choices, and all they have to do is win us over, which really isn't that hard to do.

From:

restingstitchface

How unsurprising. It's obvious this community appreciates style over substance. I wonder how that'll bite them in the nose.

[He is too bored and tired of this man to argue semantics. Too exhausted to pretend this is "our" community.]

Well, guess we'll find out, won't we?

From:

takeatrip

Calling any of the factions 'substance' is a little generous.

[Considering what he's heard about their leadership and decision making, as well as what he's seen and experienced himself, he thinks they're a whole lot more style than substance themselves.]

From:

restingstitchface

[Too bored. Too tired. Too exhausted to complain.]

I am aware of that. But today we are talking about one in particular.

From:

takeatrip

You're making comparisons.

[Which means they're talking about all of them, but he just leaves that part implied. Besides, he cares less about being right than about his next question--]

It seems like you favor the Free Cities over the Fey; why is that?

[He's genuinely curious if there's some specific reason for it or not.]

From:

restingstitchface

They offer a fertile environment: for business, education and research. My opportunities are greater. My chances for progression are higher. And I am living among people with an interest in science.

[Why conduct business with five thousand when you can trade with five hundred thousand?]

But most importantly they do not impose restrictions based on past association.

[Cough cough BLAKE.]

From:

takeatrip

[That makes sense overall, for day to day life, but Jayden can't help feeling it's a very optimistic view on the situation overall.]

That's all true, but for how long? The Free Cities haven't exactly been subtle that they'd really like us to join their military.

[Though Jayden wonder if literally any Summoned have ever done so. Still, it's clear that's what they would like, considering Summoned are told 'good luck, you're on your own, UNLESS...' when they don't.]

From:

restingstitchface

Well, they're asking we contribute. Considering this is where we make our home, I would say it's important we get along.

[That is not to say he doesn't understand why most in their community are worried.]

Edited Date: 2023-07-05 08:56 pm (UTC)

From:

takeatrip

Get along, sure, I'm not suggesting we cause problems unless we have to. But we don't owe them anything for bringing us here.

[None of them asked for this, and being expected to 'contribute' in return for being abducted sure is audacious.]

From:

restingstitchface

Well, I will have to disagree: but at this point arguing about semantics is unproductive. I would advise you to play along.

From:

takeatrip

[He almost makes a quip about how touching it is that Crane cares, but decides not to be antagonistic about it.]

I don't intend to make enemies with any of the factions' leadership.

[Which is both a neutral statement and an honest one. He doesn't intend to cause problems unless he has no other choice; he knows what governments are like, considering he works for one.]

From:

restingstitchface

[The reasons for his apparent gratitude are entirely personal and private.]

Well, doing so would be counterproductive for a man interested in keeping things on the level.

From:

takeatrip

[Jayden would argue that doing so would be counterproductive for most people, but that really would be pedantic, so he keeps it to himself. Instead, he offers a more casual--]

I was never really one for politics anyway.

From:

restingstitchface

Neither was I. But it found my anyway.

[Playground brawling. Student relationships. Workplace politics. Petitioning for funding at social events at dusk, escaping from office parties at night.]

From:

takeatrip

Office politics or politics-politics?

[Because they're different, but also in so many ways the same.]

From:

restingstitchface

[Honestly? His experience is a bit from one, a bit from the other.]

Is there a difference?

[Of course there is: he's joking and his tone makes that clear.]

From:

takeatrip

Only how prepared you are.

[At least in politics-politics you go into it willingly; office politics aren't actually necessary and that makes them worse.]

From:

restingstitchface

Now, this is probably unsurprising to you, but I do make a habit of being prepared.

[He just sometimes - you know - makes bold decisions.]

From:

takeatrip

So do I, but every so often you end up in a really weird office.

[He hates working with police; sometimes the individual officers are okay, but police departments overall are just so strange and the one he'd dealt with recently had been a great example of that.]