10-20-2013, 10:29 PM
Jim holds up his hand at this point. The one without the whiskey in it even though the casualness of the gesture has the same bearing of a toast. A regard for all that has been said and all that has gone on since he said all he had to say and waited for the result.
"It was an idea," he begins.
"If we are counting beans and putting things to a vote? I haven't pledged myself as a citizen of this democracy. Whether it gets voted up or down by some majority, I won't do it, because enough of you are against it that I respect your reservations. I won't subject the minority to the whims of the majority in either case," and the way his expression has held since the first one or two statements in disagreement of his proposition, he seems to have decided this very quickly.
"Despite the fact it seems the custom has become doing what one likes and thinks is a good idea-" a glance to Mara as he says this- "no matter if others think it might be dangerous or not so much of a good idea," he goes on. "I do hope a couple hundred yards and a set of binoculars are effective. I won't stand in your way. Wouldn't want a shuriken in the eye."
And on to Kalen. "Because, as we have been reminded, actions can have consequences. Intended or unintended. Letting the Technocrats know we're also trying to neutralize the problem whilst they're hunting the same game might have kept us from coming under fire. Might've established common ground. We won't find out. And who knows what one or two more awakened souls feeding whatever unsavory beast is inside or on the other side of that film might result in. Or if Keller will realize, through expansive wards or more mundane means, we know where he's at and be gone by the time we act on the intelligence."
"Consequences. Well, yes. To consequences in all their forms," he says, raising his glass-hand now, a toast to what this discussion seems to have boiled down to before he takes a long sip of that iced whiskey and turns out of that doorway, but only after flashing a good-natured smile and nodding, leaving his head down as he wanders off.
"It was an idea," he begins.
"If we are counting beans and putting things to a vote? I haven't pledged myself as a citizen of this democracy. Whether it gets voted up or down by some majority, I won't do it, because enough of you are against it that I respect your reservations. I won't subject the minority to the whims of the majority in either case," and the way his expression has held since the first one or two statements in disagreement of his proposition, he seems to have decided this very quickly.
"Despite the fact it seems the custom has become doing what one likes and thinks is a good idea-" a glance to Mara as he says this- "no matter if others think it might be dangerous or not so much of a good idea," he goes on. "I do hope a couple hundred yards and a set of binoculars are effective. I won't stand in your way. Wouldn't want a shuriken in the eye."
And on to Kalen. "Because, as we have been reminded, actions can have consequences. Intended or unintended. Letting the Technocrats know we're also trying to neutralize the problem whilst they're hunting the same game might have kept us from coming under fire. Might've established common ground. We won't find out. And who knows what one or two more awakened souls feeding whatever unsavory beast is inside or on the other side of that film might result in. Or if Keller will realize, through expansive wards or more mundane means, we know where he's at and be gone by the time we act on the intelligence."
"Consequences. Well, yes. To consequences in all their forms," he says, raising his glass-hand now, a toast to what this discussion seems to have boiled down to before he takes a long sip of that iced whiskey and turns out of that doorway, but only after flashing a good-natured smile and nodding, leaving his head down as he wanders off.